I’ll confess that I am not a fan of the “One call, that’s all” television commercials for the Gruber Law Offices in Milwaukee. In fact, a few years ago, I even made fun of them in a column about annoying ads on TV.
I’m about to eat some crow because I’m seeing David Gruber in a whole new light now since he created itsAaron.com, an organization to create public awareness for nonprofit organizations and people in Wisconsin who are trying to change the world.
David Gruber has teamed up with Aaron Rodgers to create a series of videos featuring Aaron dropping in unexpectedly to hang out with kids who have suffered a loss or are experiencing difficult and sometimes life-threatening health issues. The looks on the faces of the kids he visits are priceless. The mere fact that a hero of his stature would take the time to visit them inspires and cheers them. Cheers and inspires me, too.
The driving principle behind itsAaron.com is that it is a reminder and an opportunity. Here’s a quote from the website: “It’s a reminder that each one of us can make a big difference in our community. It’s an opportunity to get involved. Be inspired. Be involved. Aaron Rodgers and David Gruber believe that each of us can make a difference in our community, whether it be with time, talents, or money. We can all work together to make our world better.”
itsAaron.com is in its third season of creating inspiring videos. Perhaps you’ve seen them. One of them featured Aaron sitting in on a song-writing session with a physically handicapped teen-aged girl. Rodgers’ warmth and good sense of humor radiate out of the screen, and the delight on the young girl’s face is wonderful.
Another features Aaron as a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum and his interaction with three young high-schoolers. Like the first one, it’s priceless. The surprise and delight shown by the girls fills the screen.
The most recent film is about “Gold in September — G9,” an effort by a young girl to memorialize her deceased twin brother. G9 was created by Annie Bartosz, a 12-year-old girl from Hartland, who believed her twin brother, Jack, would be by her side forever. When Jack died from pediatric cancer, Annie created the Gold in September Childhood Cancer Project known as G9. Its mission is simple — to unite hospitals, organizations, foundations and people who want to make a difference.
Annie knew she was going to be filmed to promote her organization, but she had no idea Aaron Rodgers would be showing up to help her. She was shocked and delighted — and so was the rest of her neighborhood because Aaron went door to door with her to help her. The camaraderie which the two develop in the course of the filming is heart-warming.
The website features a letter written by Aaron. Here’s what it says:
“Hi, Everyone. Thanks for coming back to itsAaron.com. So many lives have been touched by the films we’ve created, and it’s been inspiring to see the impact. Each year, David and I are blown away by the amazing people and stories that we encounter. And we’re always reminded of the fact that we can all make a real difference when we simply choose to focus on others and get involved. This year is no exception. The surprises were fun, the stories were beautiful and the outcome is up to you. Thanks again for joining us … and please help spread the word. Sincerely, Aaron Rodgers”
I think it would be worth your time to check out this website and see some of the stories they’ve created. I think you’ll agree with me that Aaron Rodgers is more than just a hero on the football field; he’s a true hero. David Gruber, as much as I dislike his “One call, that’s all” ads, must be a really good guy, too.
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