We are all familiar with the challenges shelter animals face when finding a forever home. For some of them, the wait is unbearably long while others never get to share their life with a loving family. And even though it breaks our hearts, we can witness heroic and in many cases, very creative attempts to help abandoned animals get noticed and eventually adopted.

Not all heroes wear capes, some of them wear bow ties! All we need in this world is kindness and compassion, even if it lies in small things. And when young people set an example and invest their time and talent into making the world a better place, you can say what you want but the faith in millennials is restored right there.

Despite his young age, a 12-year-old from New Jersey with a heart of gold, Darius Brown has taken an initiative to help our furry friends get adopted much faster. He creates handmade stylish bow ties for four-legged companions (cats and dogs) and donates them to animal shelters to attract the attention of future owners.

Darius Brown has an inspiring story of fighting against all odds himself which has definitely influenced his incredibly big heart and determination. At the young age of 2, Darius Brown was diagnosed with speech, comprehension, and fine motor skills delay but none of the challenges stopped him from setting and reaching his goal. At the age of 8, he started helping his older sister cut fabric for bows which also helped to develop his fine motor skills. This is when his amazing talent shone through and he didn’t think twice to use the skills and creativity for positive changes in the world.

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At only 11 years old, Darius Brown founded a pet couture company “Beaux & Paws” specializing in unique and stylish bow ties for people and their furry family members. A young CEO seems to know more about right ways of running a business better than many of today’s entrepreneurs when it comes to giving back. Darius has donated countless bow ties to animal shelters and adoption centers across the USA and the United Kingdom. And his endeavors are supported by over 43k followers on Instagram.

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A kind-hearted dog lover himself, Darius was inspired to help animals after the devastating consequences of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in 2017. Many pets who had been left without homes were transferred to different shelters across the country, and due to a lack of adopters, they often faced euthanasia. Darius was determined to help rescue cats and dogs catch the eye of potential caretakers. And this is exactly what he did. His snazzy accessories have turned thousands of shelter residents into cute and elegant pets ready to go home any minute.

Image credits: sirdariusbrown

When you look at Brown’s resume, it’s hard to believe he’s only 12. His story has been featured in many publications and TV shows as well as recognized by many public figures, celebrities and influencers, including Allen Houston, Kenya Moore, Les Brown and many more. In 2018, former president Barrack Obama honored Darius with a letter of recognition in which he commended the young altruist for commitment to community service, “From founding Beaux and Paws to lifting up 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.”

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For his efforts and achievements, he has received the Leadership Award from Leaders of the Future No Limits, 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. And without a doubt, many more to come if he continues his genuine journey. Brown already speaks at events encouraging others to volunteer and give back to the community.

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Darius Brown’s sister, Dazhai, has recently launched a fundraising campaign inviting people to join Darius in his PAW-some mission to save more pets this summer. He set a goal of visiting more than 5 states to volunteer at different shelters and adoption centers as well as providing them with his dapper bow ties.

“He motivates and inspires me everyday. He is such an incredible young man and I will do everything I can to help him on his journey. I’m supporting him in his cause 100% and I hope you will join me. No donation is too small,” says 21-year-old Dazhai.

Image credits: sirdariusbrown

Image credits: sirdariusbrown

Image credits: sirdariusbrown

Image credits: sirdariusbrown