AJ McDonald passed away in March following a tragic ski accident in Winter Park, Colorado. AJ was, quite simply, a beautiful soul, gone way too soon. He was fun, funny, and genuinely kind. He consistently showed up for people in both big and small ways.
The stories shared about AJ have been a lifeline for us. One story from a classmate at Mill Valley particularly captured his essence: “Many people in high school made me feel small, but AJ always made me laugh and feel comfortable being myself.”
In that spirit, we have established this foundation to award scholarships and support opportunities, recognizing and celebrating acts of kindness, connection, and efforts that make our world a more joyful place. Since its inception, with generous support from the community, we have already awarded several deserving individuals, and we are only getting started.
Your compassion and help to keep AJ's spirit alive mean so much to our family.
With continued sadness and gratitude,
Lindsey, Ryan, and Maddy
Organizer
Ryan McDonald
Organizer
Shawnee, KS