PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Several backpack giveaways have taken place throughout Philadelphia as kids gear up to head back to school. One particular drive is extra special for a young Philadelphia philanthropist who started her own nonprofit when she was just 13 year old.
Akayla Brown founded Dimplez 4 Dayz in 2016 after talking with her mother about her interest in serving the community.
"A little bit of months passed and then the next thing I know I was having bookbag drives, I was feeding the homeless," said Brown. "It's just showing that the community can come together. We can love each other."
Her nonprofit is dedicated to lifting the voices of the youth and reducing violence in Philadelphia by promoting programs that help kids reach their full potential. The backpack drive was her first endeavor, but she’s turned it up a notch this year.
"We're having the dance battles, we have moon bounces, we've got the photo booth, the food," she said. "You forget for a second that, 'I'm here to get a book bag and supplies.'"
The supply drive will be held Sunday, August 14 at the Dimples Dreams Resource Center on Haverford Avenue. The center is an extension of her nonprofit and is open daily to provide a safe haven for Philadelphia youth, along with mentorship, and guidance.
"I was always dreaming of ideas so there was no reason that Dimples Dreams Resource Center wouldn't be in the community where youth could now have a safe haven to dream and come up with our ideas," said Brown.
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Brown herself is a big dreamer, with a big heart. Now at age 19 and entering her sophomore year at Howard University, the Gates Scholarship recipient has an even greater understanding of community needs. She remembers when a mother hugged her and cried at one of her events…
"Being a college student away from my mom and having to kind of depend on myself and transform into this adult life, I’m starting to see that it is a little harder," she shared. "I see what she was crying about."
Despite her busy college life, Brown has shown no signs of stopping her philanthropic efforts, saying she will always support her community.
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