WILMINGTON — Eleven-year-old Mack Mejaski is planning Clicks 4 Paws, a pet portrait fundraiser for paws4people, on Sunday, March 26, at Empie Park. Mack has an assistance dog through paws4people, a chocolate lab named Monroe. As part of the process, they have the opportunity to “pay it forward” and help the next family or veteran receive a dog.
Participants can bring their pet(s) to the park for professional portraits by a team of local photographers. Portrait sessions will be approximately 15 minutes and produce approximately five digital images. These sessions are completely donation based, and all funds will go directly to paws4people through Mack’s fundraising site.
Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made by emailing clicks4paws@gmail.com, or through the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/146142902556188/
Mack’s mom, Kate Mejaski, is a professional photographer, but she also has a background and degree in nonprofit management. Giving back has always been a part of her business model.
Kate has hosted portrait fundraisers for the last 10 years for various causes. So this event was a natural progression. Last year, Clicks4Paws photographed over 60 pets, and raised over $1,500. Kate and Mack are planning for a much bigger turnout this year.
Mack is a sweet boy facing a host of issues, including dyslexia, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and anxiety. Monroe impacts many aspects of his daily life. It costs over $30,000 to train an assistance dog, and Mack is planning to raise $10,000 to “pay it forward”, and he’s over halfway there. To learn more, visit: www.paws4people.org/give/mack-mejaski
paws4people is a 501(c)(3) public charity, that privately places trained, certified and insured Assistance Dogs (ADs) with individuals with physical, neurological, psychological and/or emotional disabilities, including civilians and Veterans. paws4people was founded in 1999, by a 12 year old girl, and is headquartered in Wilmington, NC. In the last 16 years, the organization has placed dogs in 24 states.
Clicks4paws is looking for additional photographers to help with the event, if you’re interested please contact Kate at clicks4paws@gmail.com.
-Content provided by Kate Mejaski
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