Skyway boy's legacy lives on through generous donations
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RENTON, Wash. - The family of a 12-year-old Skyway boy who shot and killed in gang crossfire is putting his legacy into action.
Alajawan Brown's parents helped local students by collecting school supplies on Saturday. They see it his legacy in action.
This is a real chance for Alajawan to make a difference in his community," says the boy's mother, Ayanna Brown.
Alajawan was shot in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store on April 29, 2010, by a gang member who confused him with somebody else.
But Alajawan's legacy lives on through the Alajawan Brown Foundation.
"Trying to make a budget stretch between four kids with clothes and supplies - we've been there, done that," says Ayanna Brown.
Now the Browns are easing the burden for local families. They're collecting supplies to fill hundreds of backpacks for local students.
Their goal is a minimum of 100 backpacks.
Alajawan's father, Louis Brown, says he asked his wife, "You don't think that's too many? 'Too many?' she said. 'I don't think that's enough.'"
And so the community chips in. Help comes in from people they know - and people they don't.
"I lost my son 13 years ago, and I was always thirsty. I'm so sorry for your pain," says one donor.
The Browns will hold another supply donation drive on Aug. 3 at the Wal-Mart store on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Renton.
Alajawan Brown's parents helped local students by collecting school supplies on Saturday. They see it his legacy in action.
This is a real chance for Alajawan to make a difference in his community," says the boy's mother, Ayanna Brown.
Alajawan was shot in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store on April 29, 2010, by a gang member who confused him with somebody else.
But Alajawan's legacy lives on through the Alajawan Brown Foundation.
"Trying to make a budget stretch between four kids with clothes and supplies - we've been there, done that," says Ayanna Brown.
 Alajawan Brown |
Now the Browns are easing the burden for local families. They're collecting supplies to fill hundreds of backpacks for local students.
Their goal is a minimum of 100 backpacks.
Alajawan's father, Louis Brown, says he asked his wife, "You don't think that's too many? 'Too many?' she said. 'I don't think that's enough.'"
And so the community chips in. Help comes in from people they know - and people they don't.
"I lost my son 13 years ago, and I was always thirsty. I'm so sorry for your pain," says one donor.
The Browns will hold another supply donation drive on Aug. 3 at the Wal-Mart store on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Renton.
I still think about that every time I drive by there almost. I'm sure I'll be passing by again on my way to the M's game tomorrow. Glad they're keeping this alive.
Doxie , Ayanna is a friend of mine, if you would like her email address email me at aseret0965@gmail.com and i will send it to you , She just got the papers for the foundation .
 @aseret09:Â
I hope that they have ALSO contacted the store manager there at WalMart and asked for in kind donations. They were always happy to help when I worked there (I started when the store was first built, spend 4 year there, lefvt after becoming a department manager).
 @LocalLady she did apply but they had already reached their limit for the month of July so she applied for August
Every time I drive by that 7-11 I think of him. Great job by his parents doing this, kudos!!!
Amazing that two years have passed already. Â Wonderful that she is doing this to help other kids. Â He would like that.
PS: Â It would be nice to have a link to the foundation so people could send donations! Â I tried finding one, but couldn't find it. Â It's apparently called Alajawan's Hands. Â If anyone can find an address, please let us all know.
 @Doxie I may have found a couple of leads for you. I Googled "Alajawan's Hands" and through the WA Secretary of State (www.sos.wa.gov) found a mailing address. It's an apartment, so I won't post the link here.
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A better bet, though is in an article by Dean Radford, editor at the RentonReporter.com with info on how to donate. It's at:
http://www.rentonreporter.com/community/163797816.html?mobile=true
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Bless you for supporting these parents who want to leave a positive, lasting legacy for their son!
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 @Choircommie Has anyone told you lately that you are awesome? Because you are!  Thanks so much!  I could give to our local program doing the same thing, but it is well supported already, and I would rather support a grass-roots operation, and if it honors a young man who never got to live his life completely, so much the better.
What a wonderful way to memorialize their son.