Jeannie Frazier- Scott volunteer coordinator for Project Pet receives the proceeds from Hammond seventh graders; Elizabeth Buckner, Lizzie Francis & Mary Ashley Reeves whose birthday celebration contributed to Project Pet's Guardian Society. Usually seventh graders want gift cards or money for their 13th birthday, but three teenagers were willing to donate their birthday wishes to a local non- profit animal rescue. Seventh graders Mary Ashley Reeves, Elizabeth Buckner, and Lizzie Francis, students at Hammond School, sent out 99 invitations for their birthday party to the seventh grade class. They were able to raise over $1,000 for Project Pet and have become the first youth members of Project Pet's Guardian Society.

The joint birthday party was held April 19, 2008, at the Gregg Park Clubhouse in Forest Acres. The young ladies had 70 attendees and were able to spread the word about Project Pet's mission to rescue pets on death row in local shelters and get them adopted to the public.

All of the young girls are animal lovers themselves and have adopted pets in their families. As members of The Guardian Society they have raised enough funds to rescue ten pets from local municipal shelters. One of their ten rescued pets will be named Hammond.

This act of kindness shows when children are taught to have love and respect for animals at an early age they grow into caring adults with compassion for all lives no matter how small. Anyone interested in becoming part of The Guardian Society may contact Project Pet at 803-407-0991 or PO Box 1777 Columbia, SC 29202.