Nonprofit Soft Enamel Pins
Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to work with several amazing charity organizations. It’s always an honor to craft custom made pins that will be used to raise awareness for important causes and sometimes to raise money that will be used to make a difference.
Recently, a charity called Spike’s K9 Fund reached out to us, and after learning about what they do, we couldn’t wait to share their story.
Spike’s K9 Fund is a registered 501(c)3 charity with the mission of helping as many police and military dogs as possible by providing special bulletproof vests for the animals. The founder of the organization, James Hatch, contacted us looking for a set of custom lapel pins for an upcoming event called Spike’s Soirée.
Hatch himself has an incredible story, and while we where working on his pin, we had a chance to do some digging and learn more about what makes him and Spike’s K9 Fund so special.
James Hatch and Spike’s K9 Fund
Hatch is a former Special Warfare Operator and an expert military dog trainer and handler. He fought in numerous missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and several other locations around the globe during a Navy career spanning more than two decades.
In 2009, Hatch was shot in the leg while in combat and his life was partly saved by the military dog at his side, Remko. In an interview with Anderson Cooper that you can see on the Spike’s K9 Fund homepage, Hatch said, “I watched Remko. I watched his body language, and as it changed, I knew we were getting close to something. And then before I realized what was there, he took a couple rounds to the head with an AK-47 at about six inches.”
Hatch nearly lost his leg, and his career in the Navy was over. However, his service to our country is far from over.
Hatch founded Spike’s K9 Fund as a means of outfitting police and military dogs with custom bulletproof vests. The organization was named after the first dog Hatch worked alongside while in the Navy, Spike.
Spike was killed in action in 2006. In the same interview with Anderson Cooper, Hatch said, “For me, as a person who handled the dog, it was my duty, I felt, to make sure he was protected. And when a dog gets hurt or killed, you failed.”
The custom bulletproof vests that the organization provides can save the lives of dogs in the field. So far, Spike’s K9 fund had been able to provide over 1,000 of these special vests, each one costing upwards of $2,500. Hatch set a goal for Spike’s K9 Fund in 2020 saying that they are aiming to provide 500 more vests to K9 units across the United States by the end of the year.
One of the key events that will help Spike’s K9 Fund reach this goal is the upcoming Spike’s Soirée in New York City. The event includes dinner, appearances from several trained K9s, guest speakers, and an auction with all proceeds going back to Spike’s K9 Fund. We were asked to create a set of custom made lapel pins for the event, and excited to help.
Custom Made Enamel Pins for Spike’s Soirée
The logo for Spike’s Soirée was custom made for the New York event. It features a dog wearing a formal vest and tie. Since the event will take place in One World Trade Center, a view of the New York City skyline was incorporated into the design as well.
On the back of the custom made enamel pins is a custom backstamp. Not many people think about including a custom backstamp for their enamel pins, but we find that it’s one of the best ways to make your design stand out from the crowd. Especially when the pins are designed for a special event, including a backstamp is one of the best ways to celebrate the event and ensure that the pins keep memories alive for a lifetime.
Hatch decided to include the year and location of the event on the back of the design, along with a website address for Spike’s K9 Fund so that anyone who has one of these pins will have a source for more information about the charity.
Using Enamel Pins to Craft a Special Night Out
In the wake of COVID-19, Spike’s Soirée has been delayed from May 17th to October 4, 2020. However, that doesn’t mean the organization has stopped giving back. Right now, there hosting a special online event called #spikestrong with all proceeds going to the CDP COVID-19 Response Fund.
If you’re interested in attending the Soirée or getting involved with Spike’s K9 Fund, you can visit their givesmart page. You can also check out their website and see what they have to offer, including Hatch’s book (Touching the Dragon: And other Techniques for Surviving Life’s Wars), special souvenirs, and even dog treats.
If you find yourself at the Soirée, keep an eye out for the custom enamel pins we designed for Hatch and Spike’s K9 Fund. It was a privilege to work with such a noble organization, and we’re already looking forward to working with them again soon.
