Aaron’s Story
The Man Behind The Gratitude Run
Meet Aaron
Before Aaron Smith’s name became connected to the Gratitude Run, he was simply the person everyone could count on.
He showed up - for his family, his work, his community, and the countless people whose lives he quietly touched along the way.
Aaron coached youth sports, served on community boards, stayed active in scouting, dedicated himself to his work, and still somehow managed to be fully present at home. He was the kind of person who handled the late-night errand without complaint, stayed up designing basketball plays, read stories to his children long after bedtime, and made time for people no matter how full his schedule was.
But what people remember most isn’t everything he did. It’s how he made them feel.
Aaron had a rare ability to make people feel valued, important, and genuinely cared for. Whether you were family, a friend, a colleague, or someone he had just met, he made space for you.
He led with kindness, humility, faith, and quiet strength.
A Life Built Around Family and Community
Family and community weren’t separate parts of Aaron’s life - they were the center of it.
Even near the end of his life, Aaron’s focus remained on other people.
After learning he had little time left, he wanted to host an open house gathering. What was intended to be a short event turned into hours of family members, friends, coworkers, and community members coming to say goodbye.
But Aaron didn’t spend that evening talking about himself.
Instead, he told every person who walked through the door exactly what they meant to him.
Specific memories. Gratitude. Encouragement. Love.
It left a lasting impression on everyone who was there.
Years later, his son Wyatt wrote that he hoped to become “the kind of person people would go to when they needed something - just like my Dad.”
Thanksgiving Morning
The first Gratitude Run took place less than a week after Aaron’s funeral.
His family was grieving, exhausted, and trying to find the strength to move through their first Thanksgiving without him.
When Jessica and the kids arrived at the park that morning, they were met by something they never expected.
A massive crowd.
Cold air. Blue skies. Sunshine.
And a community ready to surround them with love.
What they experienced that morning wasn’t just an event. It was support in its purest form - people showing up when words weren’t enough.
That moment became the foundation for what the Gratitude Run would grow into.
“People loved how he made them feel - valued, important, and genuinely cared for.”
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Aaron never sought recognition or attention. In fact, he often believed other people were more deserving of support than he was.
That’s one reason the Gratitude Run’s mission feels so fitting.
What began as a community rallying around one family has become a way to support many families navigating life’s hardest seasons.
And if Aaron were here today, his family believes he would be deeply humbled by what the Gratitude Run has become, but he wouldn’t want it to stop there.
He would want us to keep growing. Keep reaching more families. Keep building something bigger than ourselves.
Because that’s who Aaron was.
Someone who showed up for people.
Someone who believed community matters.
Someone whose legacy continues every Thanksgiving morning.
Help Us Continue the Impact
Every registration, donation, sponsorship, and volunteer makes this possible.
Together, we can continue showing up for families in our community - one Thanksgiving morning at a time.