6-Year-Old Raises Over $250K for Australian Bushfires by Making Cute Clay Koalas
Share
[aggregation-styles]
My Modern Met
Australia’s devastating bushfires have sparked shock and sadness all over the world. The ferocious flames started blazing in September 2019, and have since killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 18 million acres of land. But perhaps the most tragic fallout from the fires is that a staggering 1 billion animals are estimated to have died. Like many animal lovers, a Massachusetts-based 6-year-old named Owen Colley wanted to find a way to help the remaining bushfire-affected creatures. The young boy and his family came up with the creative idea of making and selling clay koalas, with proceeds going to fire relief efforts.
Owen began making the cute clay characters as thank you gifts for his friends and family who donated $50 or more to Wildlife Rescue South Coast, but the simple idea soon turned into a lucrative campaign. The 6-year-old’s parents began a GoFundMe page, with an initial target of $1,000, but it wasn’t long until the goal was surpassed. “When he reached his initial goal of $1,000 and started getting attention from local newspapers, we set an ambitious new goal of $5,000 and initiated this GoFundMe campaign,” say Owen’s parents. “Never in a million years did we expect to be so successful or meet and hear from so many amazing people—you’re the world’s best!”
My Modern Met
Australia’s devastating bushfires have sparked shock and sadness all over the world. The ferocious flames started blazing in September 2019, and have since killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 18 million acres of land. But perhaps the most tragic fallout from the fires is that a staggering 1 billion animals are estimated to have died. Like many animal lovers, a Massachusetts-based 6-year-old named Owen Colley wanted to find a way to help the remaining bushfire-affected creatures. The young boy and his family came up with the creative idea of making and selling clay koalas, with proceeds going to fire relief efforts.
Owen began making the cute clay characters as thank you gifts for his friends and family who donated $50 or more to Wildlife Rescue South Coast, but the simple idea soon turned into a lucrative campaign. The 6-year-old’s parents began a GoFundMe page, with an initial target of $1,000, but it wasn’t long until the goal was surpassed. “When he reached his initial goal of $1,000 and started getting attention from local newspapers, we set an ambitious new goal of $5,000 and initiated this GoFundMe campaign,” say Owen’s parents. “Never in a million years did we expect to be so successful or meet and hear from so many amazing people—you’re the world’s best!”
By Emma Taggart | 21 Jan 2020
RELATED TOPICS:
‘We Will Kill You Dead’: Florida Sheriff’s Stark Warning to Demonstrators
News /
20 hours ago
Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow
Opinion /
3 hours ago
Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
Food /
4 hours ago
Big Fresno Fair Unveils Second Wave of 2025 Concert Acts
Local /
5 hours ago
Military Parade Barrels Through Nation’s Capital With Tanks, Troops and 21-Gun Salute
National /
18 hours ago
Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers
Latest /
18 hours ago
Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty
Sports /
18 hours ago
‘We Will Kill You Dead’: Florida Sheriff’s Stark Warning to Demonstrators
News /
20 hours ago
Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow
Opinion /
3 hours ago
Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
Food /
4 hours ago
Big Fresno Fair Unveils Second Wave of 2025 Concert Acts
Local /
5 hours ago
Military Parade Barrels Through Nation’s Capital With Tanks, Troops and 21-Gun Salute
National /
18 hours ago
Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers
Latest /
18 hours ago
Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty
Sports /
18 hours ago
‘We Will Kill You Dead’: Florida Sheriff’s Stark Warning to Demonstrators
News /
20 hours ago
Manhunt for Gunman Who Shot Two Minnesota Lawmakers Enters Second Day
MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) – A massive manhunt entered a second day on Sunday in Minnesota for the gunman who killed a Democratic state law...
Crime /
55 minutes ago
Categories
Latest
Videos

Crime /
55 minutes ago
Manhunt for Gunman Who Shot Two Minnesota Lawmakers Enters Second Day

World /
1 hour ago
Israel and Iran Bombard Each Other, Trump Says He Can ‘Easily’ End Conflict

World /
1 hour ago
Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US Officials Say

Opinion /
3 hours ago
Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow

Food /
4 hours ago
Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer

Local /
5 hours ago
Big Fresno Fair Unveils Second Wave of 2025 Concert Acts

National /
18 hours ago