No small change: Third grader donates life savings to help shelter animals

The morning announcements crackled over the loudspeaker at Prairie View Elementary, delivering the usual school updates. But one message made 8-year-old third-grader Owen Perez stop and think.

His school was holding a Pennies for Paws fundraiser in February, collecting spare change to help animals in need of homes. For years, Owen had been saving money – every penny, nickel and dime – stashing it in an old protein container. His plan was to buy Pokémon cards.

But in that moment, sitting in his classroom, a different idea took hold.

“Dogs are more important than Pokémon cards,” said Owen, who lives in Eden Prairie with his parents, Gabriel and Erica, and his two brothers, Luke, 11, and Teddy, 3. “A want is Pokémon cards. A need is dogs needing shelter.”

So, he made his decision. He was going to give it all away.

A life savings, lugged into school

One morning, Owen’s teacher, Jen Reger, noticed him struggling to carry the protein container into school.

“It was so heavy, I could barely lift it,” Reger said. “I asked, ‘Owen, do you want to open it up and show everyone how much is inside?’”

Inside was his entire life savings, collected over most of his young life.

As he told this story, Owen sat with Reger in his homeroom classroom, the well-worn protein container in front of them on the table.

“When I was a baby – 1 year old – I was crawling. I don’t think I was walking yet,” Owen recalled. “I found a penny under the couch, and I had no idea what to do with it. So I crawled over to this protein container and dropped it in.”

That first penny turned into a habit. Over time, he saved loose change, birthday money and any coins he found.

Originally, he planned to use the money on Pokémon cards – until Pennies for Paws changed everything.

It reminded him of Bodi, the dog his family had adopted when he was younger.

“He was a lab mix – I don’t remember what with – but he was 1 year old when we got him,” Owen said.

One day, while staying with his grandparents, Bodi spotted a squirrel and bolted. His grandfather couldn’t hold onto the leash.

“A car ran over him,” Owen said. “I didn’t find out until three days later because my brother (Luke) didn’t tell me right away. He’s older. I was really sad when I found out.”

The moment of decision

Reger was amazed by Owen’s donation.

“I said, ‘Owen, are you very sure?’” she recalled.

Owen didn’t hesitate. “I’m very sure.”

Still, Reger checked with his mother.

“She told me they had a serious conversation about it,” Reger said. “She wanted to make sure he understood what he was doing. But he was earnest, determined and clear. He knew exactly why he wanted to give the money.”

Owen had one simple reason:

“I want to give my life savings to help the animals, so they won’t be homeless.”

A classroom lesson turned real

Not long before the fundraiser, Owen’s class had been learning about needs versus wants.

“We had just finished our economics lesson, where we learned about needs versus wants,” Reger said. “I think that really stuck with him – understanding what’s truly a need versus a want.”

She noted that Owen is passionate about Pokémon cards and fishing.

“He’s an avid collector. Everything he writes about in class – his essays – are about Pokémon or fishing,” she said. “He loves fishing, too. Those are his two big passions, right?”

But when it came down to a choice between Pokémon cards and helping animals, Owen knew what mattered more.

“His generosity is not just an act of kindness – it’s a powerful reminder of the compassion and empathy that even the youngest among us can have,” Reger said.

A ripple effect in the classroom

It didn’t take long for his generosity to catch the attention of his classmates.

“I don’t know any other kid with such a big heart who would do something like this,” Reger said. “And since Owen got the ball rolling, other kids have started bringing in their own savings, too.”

A friend was stunned when he saw Owen’s donation.

“He came up to me and said, ‘Holy cow, that’s a lot of money,’” Owen recalled. “I was like, ‘Yup, it’s my life savings.’”

How much was in the container?

Reger originally planned to have students count Owen’s coins, but she quickly realized just how long that would take.

“I tried getting my kids to count it, but I realized it would take them hours, so I stopped,” she said, laughing.

The school’s administrator eventually took Owen’s donation to the bank, where it was estimated at $75.

But for weeks, Owen’s donation remained in the classroom, a symbol of generosity that inspired his classmates.

Prairie View Elementary’s Pennies for Paws fundraiser, which ran throughout February, raised $1,354.43 for the Animal Humane Society, which provides shelter and care for animals until they find permanent homes.

And while some might see Owen’s donation as a small amount, Reger sees something far greater.

“Every penny (Owen) gave to the Pennies for Paws fund drive wasn’t just money – it was a reflection of his deep generosity, compassion and selflessness,” Reger said in an email. “In a world where people often measure giving by the amount, Owen reminds us that the true value of a gift lies in the heart behind it.”