The Sam Aden Kindness Fund

Jackson “Sam” Aden came into this world on March 31, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Russia, as Frolov Igor Mikhailovich, and we were blessed to have him join our family on December 1, 2010, as our amazing “Iggy.” While he left this earth on May 4, 2023, his 14 years were full of big love, mischief, random acts of kindness, laughter (he had the best laugh), a love of his heritage and a passion for philosophical discussions about life.

Sam was full of kindness and forgiveness, and there wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t say, “I love you” – usually multiple times in a row. We may never truly understand what led to his decision, but we know he felt love and gave love. Big Love.

Every December 1, we celebrate Sam’s “Gotcha Day”—the anniversary of the day he joined our family. What began as a deeply personal milestone has evolved into two meaningful traditions:

• Random Acts of Samness Day—On this day, hundreds of friends and family across the globe have carried Sam’s light forward in beautiful and random ways: teachers have surprised their students with books and classroom supplies, a woman in Australia left handwritten notes of encouragement in library books, a teenager in Colorado shoveled an elderly neighbor’s driveway, a family in Italy paid for a stranger’s groceries and a group of coworkers in New York pooled their money to donate to a mental health nonprofit—all in Sam’s name.
• Investing in Youth Mental Health—Recognizing the urgent need for accessible mental health support, The Sam Aden Kindness Fund is committed to making a lasting impact. Every December 1st, in honor of Sam’s “Gotcha Day,” we award grants to organizations dedicated to improving youth mental health. To date, we’ve awarded more than $60,000 to programs providing critical resources, services and advocacy—ensuring that young people receive the support they need when they need it most.

To keep Sam’s adventurous spirit alive, we have also created Sam’s Day of Stoke & Sleep In for Sam—at the beginning of every year we find a day to embrace joy, adventure and the deep connections that make life meaningful. Whether you’re carving down a mountain, sleeping in or simply taking a quiet moment with friends, this day is about celebrating life the way Sam did—with a heart wide open. Over the past two years, this event has raised nearly $40,000 to support youth mental health programs.

Through this annual event and with the generosity of our community, more than $450,000 has been raised through the Get Grounded Foundation’s Sam Aden Kindness Fund (Tax ID #46-5125610). Every single dollar—100% of all donations—will continue to go directly toward supporting youth mental health awareness and providing critical resources for youth and children in need.

We invite you to join us in this movement—Donate, participate in Sam’s Day of Stoke, carry out your own Random Acts of Samness and help us advocate for better youth mental health resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or text “START” to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Together, We Create Change.

~ Laura Love, Sam’s Mom

To get involved, please reach out to kindness@gfmcentertable.com.