“Many of our families don’t have the opportunity to plan a fun day or weekend because it can be cost-prohibitive or they lack family or friend support. You not only make fun happen for them, you give them permission to relax and enjoy each other, often in the comfort of their own home…Your gifts speak volumes and create wonderful, lasting memories.”                             
Nancy Huslage, LCSW-C 
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

“Casey Cares recognizes that children with serious illnesses are kids first. Having something to look forward to is sometimes as important as the medical treatment itself…Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces as they recount their adventures says it all.”
Wendy Paramore, LICSW
Georgetown University Hospital                      

“Trevor and his family were delighted with the extra effort you made to help them complete arrangements for their special getaway. This act of kindness reminded me just how important your organization is to our families…I feel privileged to be the catalyst that brings your organization together with these wonderful children and their families.”                                     
Mary Bohlen, LGSW
The Children’s Hospital at Sinai

“Casey Cares does not provide a ‘one time deal’ as many organizations do, but rather provides ongoing-support, even up to one year after treatment is finished…Casey Cares fills a much-needed niche with the populations serves and services provided.”
Flora Wu, MS, CTRS/CCLS
VCU Medical College of VA Hospital

“We are grateful to Casey Cares for helping to accomplish these goals of helping children and their parents feel back to normal again and to share good times together. Laughter and happiness should be important parts of every child’s life, and Casey Cares brings a lot of that to the children and families it serves.”
Lynn Hardesty, LICSW
Children’s National Medical Center

Dear Casey Cares,
 
The money in this envelope is for you, because I would like to really thank you for all that you've done for my family.  I hope that with my business that I can help you and other charities to expand and help others with what they do.
 
Sincerely, 
Aaron Ware

Baltimore City, Feb. 24, 2009 – Eric Ware of Prince George’s County, Maryland, first came to the Casey Cares Foundation, a non-profit that provides uplifting programs to critically ill children and their families, in 2004.  At the age of six, doctors had diagnosed him with a brain tumor.  Eric soon began chemo and radiation treatments, and although they seemed to help, doctors had trouble getting rid of the cancer completely.  The battle raged on for two years until Eric tragically lost his fight with cancer in October of 2006.
 
What does this have to do with Aaron?  Aaron and Eric were identical twins.  Can you imagine losing someone born at exactly the same time as you, who looks exactly the same as you, and who was your partner-in-crime since the moment you were born?  It was hard enough for the staff of Casey Cares to let go of Eric after only seeing his family at group parties and talking to his family over the phone to work out arrangements to send them to various events. 

“Anyone who has met the Wares can tell you that they are a special family,” said Erin Webb Ritter, Casey Cares’ Development Director.  “When the Casey Cares Foundation burned down in 2007, they were some of the first people to call us and ask how they could help.  Our Foundation has grown so close to the Wares, and the loss of Eric was greatly upsetting for all of us.”

That was just the reaction from Casey Cares.  It is hard to imagine how overwhelming it must be for Aaron to be a twinless twin.  "He says that there is a hole in him," Angela Ware, his mother, told us. "I don't doubt him."  Although Aaron struggled with the loss of his brother, his spirits began to turn around one day after a visit to his pediatrician, Dr. Marilyn Corder.  They were talking about what he liked to do, and his face lit up when he began to talk about baking.  So she gave him a job -- create a baking company.

That was the beginning of Doughjangles -- Sweets by Aaron.  His first investor was none other than Dr. Corder herself, who handed him $20 on the spot to get his company started.  Since then, Chef Aaron's business has flourished.  He made over $60 in profits last Christmas alone, and just had another bake session for Valentine’s day.  He sells his creations for $1 a piece, and his favorite cookies include chocolate chip, Butterscotch Dream and Black and White. 

The amazing part of this story is that Doughjangles is not just a hobby to distract Aaron from losing Eric.  Instead, it is his ultimate gift in remembering Eric.  When his mom asked him what he wanted to do with his profits, Aaron told her, "Save some, spend some, buy more supplies, and give some.  I want to give to the people who helped us when Eric was sick.  They helped us a lot."

In January of 2009, Aaron made good on his pledge to help those who had helped his family.  Accompanying the opening letter was Aaron’s first $10 donation for the Casey Cares Foundation.  The Casey Cares staff was touched that at such a young age, and after all Aaron had been through, that he was able make such a selfless action.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how important that $10 is to me,” says Casey Baynes, the founder and Executive Director of Casey Cares.  “Most people focus on the impact that Casey Cares has on our families, but it’s incredible how much the families impact us as well. This is just one of those moments I will never forget.”
  
Aaron Ware’s baking business will be featured this Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.  The show will air at 7 p.m. ET.