LCHS student efforts provide police dog with protective vest         

[MARCH 15, 2005]  SAN DIEGO -- The Future Business Leaders of America at Lincoln Community High School in Lincoln, Ill., found a young man who is making a difference for police and police dogs in the community. Brandon L. Rahn, a high school junior and the project manager for this year's FBLA program, selected Vest-A-Dog for this year's project.

Vest-A-Dog is a nonprofit corporation formed in June 1999 for the purpose of providing bulletproof vests to law enforcement dogs through local fund-raising programs and donations. Brandon planned to raise money for the purchase of one bulletproof vest for his local police department.

His Internet search for a business partner culminated with a California connection when StarRise Creations joined in his efforts by answering his request for a donation of the IMA Hero™ Abraham Lincoln Teddy Bear. Brandon's plan called for giving out teddy bears to those who made a donation to the Vest-A-Dog program.

After reviewing Brandon's request, StarRise Creations committed to be a sponsor because they recognized the leadership efforts he displayed.

The fund-raising drive is completed, and Brandon and his 15-member team were "overjoyed with their results," according to program adviser Sandra Bronson. "They were able to raise $887.22 in total," she said. "One vest costs $500, so they are well on their way to purchase another vest. Since the police department has a total of two dogs, this would be 100 percent coverage for their local police dogs."

Vest-A-Dog began in Oceanside, Calif., when Stephanie Taylor, an 11-year-old, read a story about a police dog named Solo in the state of New Jersey who was killed in the line of duty. The story, along with the knowledge that the Associated Humane Society of New Jersey had raised money to vest their police dogs, gave her the idea to "vest a dog." She began a program to raise money locally, but her program did not stop there. She continued her quest to protect the law enforcement dogs in her county and collected enough funds to provide bulletproof vests for more than 50 dogs in San Diego County. The Vest-A-Dog foundation has now expanded nationwide.

[News release from StarRise Creations]