9-Year-Old Boy Raises Thousands To Supply K-9s with Bulletproof Vests
We often don’t give kids enough credit — although small, children often have the biggest, most passionate hearts. When dedicated to a certain cause, children can instigate huge changes.
Nine-year-old Brady Snakovsky’s heart is set on saving the lives of dogs in the police force.
When he noticed that a K-9 featured on “Live PD” wasn’t wearing a bulletproof vest, Brady was concerned. It turns out that ballistic vests cost around $1,000.
Although the vests are expensive, the young, aspiring police officer was determined to donate one to a K-9 in his Ohio community. His mother, Lena Tornabene, decided to help him establish a GoFundMe page to raise money for the cause.
To spread the word about his fundraiser, the third-grader sold candy at community events, wrote to local congressmen and talked to his classmates and friends. His brother Jaden even donated money from his own piggybank!
“Brady is an introvert, but he’s really come out of his shell,” Tornabene told GoFundMe. “At school, his teacher shared his story, and I had moms reach out that their children went home and wanted to donate.”
Brady didn’t just raise enough money for one K-9. He wound up earning enough for three in his community — and there was no stopping him. He resolved to outfit nine K-9s with vests in honor of his 9th birthday.
His goal was quickly met and surpassed. In fact, he’s supplied bulletproof vests to 84 K-9s across the United States, and that number is growing rapidly.
What began as a GoFundMe page has transformed into its own official non-profit organization called Brady’s K-9 Fund. The organization’s goal is “to donate a practical, mission ready vest to as many Police K-9’s as possible.”
Brady’s non-profit is well on its way to meeting its goal. Brady has currently surpassed his current fundraising goal of $75,000.
Why is Brady so determined to gift K-9s with vests? To him, the answer is simple.
“I want them to stay safe from bad people,” Brady told WKYC.
As he grows up, Brady hopes to join the police force to protect and serve his community, even though he’s already doing so at such a young age.
“I want to be a police officer because I want to help out other people and keep people safe,” Brady said. “I think it’s so cool to help out other people.”
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