Stevie Nelson's 6th Birthday Wish

To help provide food, shelter and love to animals in need. ***Stevie Nelson's 6th Birthday Wish Story*** This is the story that started it all.... Video games, DVDs, bikes, toy cars, anything related to superheroes…this is what a typical birthday list looks like for most little boys turning six years old. However, Stevie Nelson of Tilden, NE, had a different kind of list this year. For his sixth birthday, he asked for dog food, cat food, animal treats, various chew toys and money, $6,000 to be exact, a thousand dollars for each of the Stevie’s years so far. All to benefit the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society, a 501c 3 Non-Profit Organization. His dream gift was a safe shelter for Northeast Nebraska’s unwanted/misfortune dogs and cats who are still looking for their forever homes. Animals have always had a special place in Stevie’s heart. Stevie’s compassion for animals reached an entirely new level last year after his two Charcoal Labrador Retrievers, Bo and Luke, went missing from their family home in March 2010, just two days before his fifth birthday. Stevie’s ONLY birthday wish last year was to have his two best friends returned to him—a wish that was unfortunately never granted. Stevie turned six years old March 16, 2011. Instead of having a traditional birthday party, this kind-hearted little boy requested that his birthday party guests not bring him any gifts, but rather bring gifts that will help the thousands of unwanted pets in Northeast Nebraska, including dog/cat food, vitamins, toys, collars, leashes and treats. He stated that he wanted to “fill their truck full of donations” (for the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society). Stevie’s Birthday Party to benefit the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society took place at the Tilden Public Library on March 26th, 2011. Family and friends, both new and old, gathered to help make Stevie’s 6th Birthday Wish come true. An outpouring of support was not only seen locally, but as news traveled of Stevie’s 6th Birthday Wish, folks across the nation were moved by Stevie’s selfless act of kindness and started making both monetary donations as well product donations, all to helps support Stevie’s cause and “fill his big truck”. Stevie received donations from nearly each state across the USA. Live Oak Bank of North Carolina, was the first to make a sizable donation towards Stevie’s 6th Birthday Wish. Air Tran Airlines donated two, round trip airline tickets for Stevie to use as a fundraiser for his cause. The Kinder Porter Scott Family Foundation of Lincoln, NE, also offered to match all monetary donations to Stevie’s Wish up to $10,000. Stevie’s story touched celebrities such as Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer), Steven Kellogg and Sarah McLaughlan. Stevie was moved by Sarah McLaughlan’s PSA for the ASPCA back in December. He was SO moved by the “sad, sad song” that he wanted to help other animals….and be able to see the ones he was helping. This one Public Service Announcement was the beginning of “Stevie’s 6th Birthday Wish”. Stevie’s Story has gained national media attention, being featured on ILOVEDOGS.COM, VETDEPOT.COM, AMAZINGNEWS.ORG, BNEWYORK.COM, & PETLIFERADIO.COM. To date, he has raised $38,600 in monetary donations and an estimated $6,000 in product donations. He also had all of the product donations to date (two truckloads) displayed for the public to view. Both local and national media covered the event. When asked why he decided to have a birthday party to benefit the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society, Stevie stated, “Because they (animals) need love. Without love animals will die and I don’t want them to die”. Stevie’s mother, Dawn Nelson stated, “We are so very proud of what Stevie has been able to accomplish. He has made something so incredibly positive come out of our family’s tragedy. This is an excellent example of “Paying it forward” and what is equally amazing are Stevie’s little friends in Tilden heard Stevie’s Story and wanted to help him raise money, so much so that they split the contents of their piggy banks with him. That was incredibly touching to me. These kids were so generous and this truly feels like a “little people movement”. All monetary donations from Stevie’s 6th Birthday Wish went to the Northeast Nebraska Humane Societ. The product donations are being put to use at this very moment. Stevie, with the help of his sister, Ashleigh, make “care packages” (specific to their age and size) for each of the foster animals in temporary homes within the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society. These “care packages” include food, vitamins, toys, treats, collars, and leashes, enough to keep the foster animals pampered for quite some time. Foster care parents are excited to have some of the financial obligation of fostering a pet absorbed by having the items provided to them, all because of Stevie’s Wish. Stevie’s fundraiser has not only raised money and products for the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society, but it has also raised awareness for the need of a shelter for Northeast Nebraska’s homeless pets. New interest for folks to volunteer at Northeast Nebraska Humane Society and become foster care parents is also on the rise after word of Stevie’s Wish spread. Stevie’s parents were unable to grant his one birthday wish last year—to bring his “boys” home. This little boy had a trying year, and he did his absolute best to create something positive out of his hopeless situation by helping other animals in need. When asked if he feels that this fundraiser was a success, Stevie states: “I am just happy to get to help more animals feel loved”. His mom states, “I have never measured the success of this fundraiser by a dollar amount. This has been a valuable experience. We (his parents) are so incredibly pleased that at the age of 6 years old, Stevie was able to look beyond himself and see a bigger picture and a desire to help others. I think we can all learn from that.” When asked what is in store for future birthday parties, Stevie states, “I am going to have a “regular” party for my 7th Birthday, but I will have another party for “the animals” when I turn 8.” Stevie, his family and his “furry friends” are very grateful for each of you that have made monetary donations and product donations, as well as the countless hours that volunteers helped sell raffle tickets for Stevie’s cause and helped raise awareness of his cause.