The AJ Project is dedicated to the memory of Anthony "AJ" Perrelli (AJ's story)
August 5, 1987 - October 16, 2013
As a professional Actor, Dancer and Singer we connect the arts to organ donor education and family support.
Why #4AJ
OUR MISSION IS TO USE THE ARTS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE
TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGAN DONATION
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 50 others.
Register to be an organ, tissue, bone, cornea donor here on Organdonor.gov
National Organ Donor Statistics
Please consider a MONTHLY OR ONE TIME DONATION to help sustain on going programs that funds creative arts projects, promotes organ donor registration, educates the community, provides services to support our donor hero families, and to ensure that our mission remains alive and strong.
The AJ Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization since 2014. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donation.
OUR VISION IS TO FUND A PROGRAM TO ASSIST FAMILIES WHILE THEY ARE IN WAIT
FROM TIME OF DECLARATION TO DONATION.
Will you help us to help organ donor families during their time of need?
CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO SERVICES GEARED TO DONOR HERO FAMILIES AS THEY GO THROUGH DECLARATION OF DEATH TO DONATION.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS NOW!!!
IN DEVELOPEMENT: Donations 4 Organ Donors
THE PROGRAM WILL:
- Assist organ donor families in wait with services determined individually for each families needs regardless of income
- Will give opportunity for friends, family, benevolent strangers and the local community to make direct donations to families to fulfill these needs
- Provide local resources for food, lodging, airports, transportation and amenities needed for their extended stay
DID YOU KNOW?
- That the local OPO's (organ donor procurement agencies (the people who ask about and coordinate the donation to transplantation) can not, by law, offer any services to donor families (financially or otherwise) as they go through the process of declaration of death to donation.
- That the reason why they can not offer services prior to the donation would be considered quid pro quo (a favor or advance granted or expected in returned for something) per government regulations and are illegal.
- That OPO organizations can offer and do offer many forms of support to donor families post donation.
- That there are services available to recipients, living donors, those on the waiting list, post transplant patients but none directed specifically to donor families?
WHAT WE KNOW THROUGH EXPERIENCE AS A DONOR FAMILY
- The time from injury to declaration of death to organ donation was over a week. .
- The hospital fatigue we as a family was so overwhelming.
- That during this dramatic, exhausting and devastating time it is very difficult to make the simplest of decisions and maintain self care.
- Our families and friends traveled from all over to NYC. Many had never been here before and had no idea how to choose a place to stay, what was the best transportation options and where to eat. We did not have the where with all to even guide them. We later found out that we were not alone, especially in NYC situations. Many families don't have knowledge of the area surrounding the hospital where their loved one is admitted.
- Imagine your loved one lives in a different state and you have to travel to say goodbye. We want to help make that possible.
- Two words....After care. Once the organ donation is done. NOW WHAT?
Click here to view he Perrelli Ftamily meeting two of AJ's recipients
Each received two organs from her son AJ which at that time was not common.
AJ's mother Christine is joined by her son's organ donor recipient and his wife as they honor the Dr's and Nurses at Mt Sinai Queens, NY for all their hard work.
Co- Founder Christine Perrelli is interviewed about The AJ.
Like AJ, The AJ Project is a cheerleader, fundraiser, networker and supporter to the creative arts community. With every program we do for organ donation we try to incorporate some form of artistic creation and support the artistic communities that AJ loved so much.
With the help of professionals and volunteers, our Create from the Heart programs have connected music, dance and visual arts to share AJ's story and bring to light the importance of organ donor registration.
Click Here to watch The Create from the Heart Dance. This dance was inspired by a recording of AJ Perrelli's heartbeat taken just hours before he gave the gifts of life through organ donation.
pictured: Cristina Tumillo Kerry Ann McManuas (choreographer) Christine Perrelli, Donor mom and AJP founder, Chris Mankens, Music by Jarvis Green
LIVE LIFE GIVE LIFE Video/ AJP Produced for Create from the Heart Campaign
Why The AJ Project? The simple answer is #4AJ.
AJ was a connector and a doer.
If this was someone he knew and he learned of these statistics he would have wanted to create change too.
2013 (Year of AJ Death) Statistics
THE NYC AND SURROUNDING REGIONS (our local OPO) THE ORGAN DONOR RATE WAS ONLY 221 DONORS in 2013
10,000 PEOPLE WHERE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR LIFE SAVING DONATIONS
AND NEW YORK CITY WAS 50TH IN THE NATION FOR DEATH DONORS
For the past 10 years The AJ Project has been educating, registering and
advocating across the country and specifically to NYS legislature for positive change for donors and recipients.
Our work has made a BiG difference!
2023 STATISTICS
Coming soon: 2024 Statistics
How we started: When AJ passed away a fund was set up to help with his burial costs. After all was done there was $800 still in the account. AJ's mother promised that any remaining money would be put into a fund for the arts in honor of AJ. Eight years later AJ's gifts are still giving through artistic creation and organ donor awareness campaigns.
This project exists as an extension of our namesake AJ Perrelli's love of creating and connecting those who create. AJ was a professional dancer, singer, actor and stage performer who passed away at the young age of 26. His final casting call was as an organ donor. Because of AJ both in life and after his death people world wide were inspired to pursue their passions for the the arts and also sign up as organ donors.
How can you help?
Become a part of our community. Contact [email protected].
Apply to sit on our board of directors or advisory council- send inquiries to [email protected]
Donate money, raffle items for our annual events, time, talent and your friends lists!
Create an event to benefit the TAJP: have a house party and invite your friends to learn more about The AJ Project
The AJ Project is dedicated to the memory of Anthony "AJ" Perrelli (AJ's story)
August 5, 1987 - October 16, 2013The AJ Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donation.
National registration for organ, tissue, bone and cornea donation at Organdonor.gov
Donate to the AJ Project here @give4AJ
Available & Upcoming Programs:
Speaker: Organ Donation through the donor family perspective
Speaker: Group Presentations: This program connects education services or presentations to our local community. We provide on site organ donation and registration information, story telling from families of organ donors, donor recipients and living donors. This can be an intimate tabling, one on one program or presented to large groups.
Create from the Heart: This program connects AJ's passion for the arts to his last casting call as an organ donor. As a dancer, singer, photographer and all around creative person we honor his legacy by connecting the arts to creating organ donor education and awareness through artistic creations.
Donations 4 Donors (D4D): This program will offer services to donor hero families from time of yes to time of goodbye. We are in the planning process and would love your input and assistance in developing a one of a kind program for donor families. Our goal is to assist donor families with services for each family such as facilitating a donation page, accepting hotel, airline and credit card points, providing information and resources for We will give opportunity for friends, family and benevolent strangers to make direct donations to families to fulfill these needs so they can more time with their loved one and less doing other things.
Anthony "AJ" Perrelli was honored as a Donor Hero in the 2019 Rose Bowl Parade