At just 11 years old, Grayson Hovell pulled off something big. He wanted to help Mobile’s K-9 police units—so he did.
With a stack of 50-cent coloring sheets and a goal in mind, he turned a simple school fundraiser into a nearly $600 donation.
What started in a single classroom at Griggs Elementary grew fast, powered by coins, classmates, and the kind of momentum only a good idea can build.
Coloring Sheets and a Clever Plan
Grayson is a student at Griggs Elementary School and an aspiring police officer. His idea was simple: raise money for Mobile’s K-9 unit by selling coloring sheets.
He made copies, set the price at 50 cents, and got to work. Students started buying. Then more joined in.
Classrooms filled their donation bags with change, and each day brought heavier coin hauls.
“It was exciting because they were buying so many coloring sheets,” he said.
Three Days, $600, and a Whole Lot of Heart
The fundraiser lasted just three days. By the end of it, Grayson had raised nearly $600.
His mother, Heather Hovell, watched the entire thing unfold. “His dad and I are ecstatic,” she said. “We’re proud of him, and it just shows that our kids can make a difference.”
There were no fancy tools, no major campaign. Just one idea that caught fire in the best possible way.
Where the Money’s Going
The full donation went to the Mobile Law Enforcement Foundation. It will directly support the police department’s K-9 units—covering equipment, supplies, or anything else those working dogs and their handlers might need.
John Arendall, the foundation’s president, was impressed.
“You expect this kind of initiative from older groups. For someone so young to take that step—it’s remarkable,” he said.
A Future Officer in the Making
Grayson wants to be a police officer one day, and this fundraiser is proof he’s already thinking like one. He saw something that mattered to him and acted.
No adult came up with the idea. No one had to suggest it.
The way he talks about the project makes it clear—he didn’t just want to help; he wanted to do it in a way that felt real.
His plan was simple, and it worked.
What Spreads From Here
A handful of coloring sheets became a full-on movement at school. Students got involved, teachers rallied around the idea, and by the time it wrapped, the whole building knew what Grayson was up to.
These are the moments that plant seeds. A classmate sees what’s possible. A teacher builds a lesson around it. A parent tells someone else.
And maybe, somewhere down the line, another student launches a fundraiser of their own.
To learn more about the foundation Grayson supported, visit mobilelawenforcementfoundation.com.
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