2nd Annual

AJ Project

Friend Raiser 

Produced by Christine Perrelli

Directed by: Anthony & Michael Perrelli

January 27, 2018 - Astoria World Manor, Astoria NY

On January 27, 2018 over 200 guest came to the second annual AJ Project friend raiser to celebrate the arts and honor AJ Perrelli's legacy as a performer and as an organ donor.

Sponsors:  Live it Up - LiveonNY - Zambrano Productions - The AstorRoom 

Sponsor, Donna Drake, interviews our founder Christine Perrelli about The AJ Project and Create From the Heart.

Our guest were entertained by talent from Broadway shows, the movies and and up and amazing emerging artists.

Top Left: Anthony Perrelli, Drew Seely, Amy Pffrath, Ally Carlson, Christian Musto, Eric Schuett, James Harkness, Christine Perrelli, Kitty Perrelli Left bottom row: Nick Perrelli, Christina Neubrand, Owen Tabaka and Michael Perrelli Not pictured: Photographers: Charlie Kaye and Sam Joseph

click here for performance videos

SUBJECTS OF THE QUEEN 

Ty Tuschen, Guitar - Jacob Fjeldheim, Piano 

Amy Rivard - Singer, Georgia Weber - Bass, Andy Mac - Drums

 The AJ Project brings awareness to the need for organ donors.  In 2013 AJ Perrelli was one of only 239 donors in the greater New York Area*

The greater New York area including Westchester, Nassua and Suffolk counties has the lowest organ donation rate in the country. It is listed as 50th in the nation with Puerto Rico being the only one lower.  Christine Perrelli met Donna McKenna through her work in the arts with The AJ Project.  When they met she had no idea that her husband Tim was on the waiting list for a life saving Kidney.  In 2017 Tim received a donor kidney all the way from Chicago. The AJ Project is proud to bring you their story. 

Donna and Tim McKenna Speak - Click here for video

Friends new and old come to support The AJ Project.  

For more event photos click here

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More below:

-1st Annual Sillage Award -

- AJP Sponsored 2017-18 Boys & Girls Cub Film Art and Media Program -

- More Event Photos -

- A letter from our Founder - 

2018 was the first year we presented the AJ Projects Sillage Award (Video) The name of the award came from a post that AJ's sister Catherine had put on Facebook about a week after his passing away. The word perfectly describes how people feel about AJ and his effect on them both during his life and continuing with his legacy and The AJ Project.  The award honors a person who reaches out to the community and makes a difference like AJ did. It's not the big things but the small things that leave a lasting impression and AJ was known for that.

Marc Lyons presents AJ Project Sponsored F.A.M Club @ Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens

Dear AJ,

This is all for you AJ. I promised I would say your name everyday and I am.  Your brothers Michael & Nick and your sister Kitty performed for you tonight.  You would have been so proud. All of your gifts are God given and it makes me proud to be abe to share them with the world.   

Love Momma

The Perrelli Family -Nick, Michael, Christine, Kitty and Anthony - AJ /Bottom Left

A letter from our Founder

On Saturday, January 27th, 2018 we hosted our 2nd Annual Friend Raiser themed Create From the Heart at The Astoria World Manor in Queens.  We chose this venue because it is centrally located 

Thank you for helping us reach our goals,  Your tax deductible gift, sponsorship, raffle item or auction item went a long way to covering our yearly overhead and allow us to plan our next video production for organ donor awareness.

The afternoon was filled with old and new friends, live entertainment, professionally produced video productions, an amazing organ donor recipient guest speaker, great food and tons of raffle and auction items. With had over 200 guest in attendance and we raised enough money to sponsor a dedicated production program with a local high school. 

In 2018- 19 the program we initiated at the Variety Boys and Girls of Queens continues without us.  We are grateful to have been part of it's inception and found that we are geared more towards older learners and adults. sustain our monthly bills for one year. 

Besides showcasing amazing talent our honored guest this year are Yessie Escano, Senior Family Services Live On NY and Tim McKenna, kidney recipient. 

Our inspiration comes from the determination and fearlessness of our name sake AJ Perrelli. AJ was a professional dancer, singer, actor and stage performer who passed away at the young age of 26. His final casting was as an organ donor. Because of AJ both in life and after his death people world wide were inspired to pursue their for the the arts and also sign up as organ donors.