Meet Sir Darius Brown: The 19-Year-Old on a Mission To Help Shelter Pets
The kid hero shares how his childhood idea grew into a mission helping shelter pets find loving homes
Key Takeaways
- Teen entrepreneur Sir Darius Brown has made and donated over 7,000 bow ties to shelter pets.
- His PAWsome Mission has raised over $500,000 to support animal shelters and dog adoptions.
- Recognized by two U.S. Presidents, the 19-year-old aims to visit shelters in all 50 states.
Every once in a while, a hero lifts our hearts, and we like to know where they ended up—like Kid Hero Sir Darius Brown, who was 12 years old when he first graced the pages of Woman’s World magazine. Now, at 19, his mission continues! Here, he shares updates with Woman’s World.
“Hey, that looks like fun!” exclaimed 8-year-old Darius Brown as he watched his older sister, Dazhai, make bows on her sewing machine.
Before long, Dazhai had taught him how to sew, and soon, he was creating his own bow ties. He loved dressing up in professional attire and looking dapper, thus earning the nickname “Sir Darius.”
Two years later, news stories broke about the devastation from Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Sir Darius’ heart ached learning about the many orphaned dogs being transferred from Texas to New York City.
What if I create bow ties for the dogs to wear in their adoption photos to help them find a home? he wondered.
Determined, he armed himself with 20 bow ties and had Dazhai take him to the ASPCA in New York City. With a sense of purpose, Sir Darius was set on his mission.
Word of his work spread on social media, news networks and talk shows, and shelters around the world started contacting him for bow ties. He was named a GoFundMe Kid Hero and gained even more support for his cause.
He also started the PAWsome Mission to donate bow ties to at least one animal shelter in every state. He also wrote a book, Project PAWsome: Saving Shelter Pets One Bow Tie at a Time. And by the time he was 11, he launched Beaux & Paws (SirDariusBrown.com).
The site, which sells bow ties, T-shirts and more, combines his love of fashion with his passion for animals.
Since Woman’s World last caught up with Sir Darius in 2019, the response has been overwhelming, and he has gotten support and encouragement from public figures, actors, athletes and leaders over the years.
He received letters from former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, earning Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and becoming the youngest designer to participate in the New York Pet Fashion Show.
To date, the 19-year-old entrepreneur has gained 119,000 followers on social media, and he’s designed and distributed over 7,000 bow ties, helping countless pets get adopted. He has helped raise more than $500,000 in support of animal shelters and pet adoption campaigns.
“What started as an idea to help shelter pets has taught me the importance of compassion and using your talents to serve a greater purpose,” Sir Darius shares. “I hope my story continues to show that every animal deserves an opportunity to be loved.”
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