Our Knot Perfect Story
In 2018, our founder adopted a dog, turned twelve, and started Knot Perfect.
It was a week before my 12th birthday when my family surprised me after school and brought me to the shelter to walk a dog. Honestly, the plan was just to walk a dog. It was a big surprise to all of us when we discovered the dog could fetch. Then, we suddenly realized how much our dog at home could use a buddy. The new pup left the shelter with us, I made some toys for him, and that gave me the idea to start a dog toy business.
My family asked, "How can you use it to do good in the world?" and I thought of the children and families who are facing hunger. I always look forward to volunteering at You(th) vs. Hunger events where I can pack meals for people around the globe who do not have food to eat. Inspired by my passion for dogs and desire to make an impact in the world, I decided all of the money I collect while making dog toys will be used to pack more meals and feed more people.
Under the name Knot Perfect, I started fighting hunger in an imperfect world. I handmade an initial inventory of 100 toys and began accepting donations at community events while handing out dog toys as thank-you gifts. I also put buckets of toys in local businesses that are really wonderful and supportive of my mission. On my 17th birthday, I competed on Season 15 of American Ninja Warrior to advocate for an end to world hunger. It was a dream to be on the show, and at the same time, I felt like I was carrying a heavy weight on my shoulders. I was hanging on to the obstacles not just for me, but for the one billion people around the world who go to bed hungry each night.
After making over 1,000 toys and collecting enough donations to provide over 86,000 meals, I am overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of the many people I meet who want to help others and make the world a better place. As a freshman at the University of Notre Dame, I am looking forward to continuing my work to feed the hungry and the new directions my mission takes me.
- Austin, teen and founder of Knot Perfect Inc.