Meet Darius Brown, a 12-year-old boy from New Jersey who has come up with a creative idea to help abandoned animals get noticed and get adopted faster.
Despite his young age, he has developed a love for fashion and understood that his passion could benefit dogs and cats in need. For this reason, he became interested in making stylish handmade bow ties for furry friends and donated them to animal shelters to help the animals look attractive in the eyes of future owners.
His inspiring story appeared on many news outlets and television shows as well as recognized by many public figures, and celebrities such as Allen Houston, Kenya Moore, Les Brown, and many more.
In 2018, former president Barack Obama honored Darius with a letter of recognition for his compassion, in which he commended the young altruist for his efforts, achievements, and commitment to service.
“From founding Beaux and Paws to lifting the lives of those around you, it’s clear you are doing your part to look out for your fellow citizens. And I trust you take tremendous pride in all you have accomplished. As long as you stay engaged in the world around you, continue looking for ways to help others, and never give up on yourself, I’m confident our future will be bright.”
For his efforts and achievements, he gained the Leadership Award from Leaders of the Future No Limits, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the WDIB Conference, the Youth Changer Award from “Excel Honors,” and he will be receiving the Jasmina Anema Youth Award from the “Black Cotton Foundation” in July 2019. Now, he has more than 43,000 followers on Instagram.
This summer, Darius set a goal of visiting more than 5 states to volunteer at different shelters and adoption centers in the hope of getting many dogs and cats adopted with his dapper bow ties.
What an inspirational young man! His wonderful story shows that all we need in this world is kindness and compassion, even if it lies in small things. If you want to know more about Sir Darius, you can visit his Instagram. Please share this story with your friends and family!