Tyrone Area High School sophomore Katelyn Richards has big plans to add a K-9 memorial statue on the grounds of the Tyrone American Legion to honor military K9 dogs.

“My family inspired me to begin this project because a lot of them were in the military,” said Richards.

Richards is currently organizing various events that will take place throughout the community to help raise the money for the project. Her first fundraising event is spaghetti dinner at the Tyrone American Legion on May 28.

Tickets for the dinner are $5.00 each and can be purchased from Katelyn or by calling 814-502-3832.

All proceeds will be used directly towards the statue.

Katelyn’s design features a German Shepherd dog holding dog tags.

“The German Shepherd dog represents the K-9s, and the dog tags represent the soldiers,” explained Richards.

While this statue would be a great addition to the Legion, according Richards, to it will require approximately $12,000 to bring her idea to life.

Fortunately this is not Richard’s first experience with fundraising for community projects. She has taken on several events and causes in the past.  Richards tackled her first charity project back in seventh grade. In “Operation Christmas Joy” she collected toys for children at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital.  In eighth grade Richards collected school supplies for an underprivileged school through her church. Lat year, in ninth grade she organized “Ride for Abigail,” a benefit motorcycle ride to help a local child with melanoma.

“I’m learning a lot by doing this project,” said Richards, “I’m currently learning how to run a meeting. We now have a committee with a President Chas Boyd, Vice President Chris Richards, Secretary Jill Richards and Treasurer Dawn Boyd and we hold meetings once a week,” said Richards.

Anyone who would like to donate to help complete the project, contributions can be sent to:

K9 Memorial Fund

P.O. Box 473

Tyrone, PA 16686