KANAB — With his natty hat and crisp button-up shirts, Julian Lin, also known as Julian Businessman, makes quite the impression. It’s his actions, however, that really set this 8-year-old apart.
The young entrepreneur runs a lemonade stand in his hometown of New York City, New York to raise funds for nonprofits, such as Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization with a goal of making America no-kill by 2025, according to a news release issued by the nonprofit.
To date, Julian has raised many thousands of dollars between his “brick and mortar” business and its corresponding website.
Unfortunately, this June, Julian’s lemonade stand was robbed, a story that caught the attention of Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle.
She sent Julian a box of gifts, along with a letter:
I read about what happened with your lemonade stand recently. I want you to know how sorry I am, but how inspired I am by your refusal to let those thieves shake you and stop you from doing what you love.
Speaking of things you love, I know you love dogs. I’d like to invite you and your family to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, where you can meet dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, horses, and other barnyard animals!
Keep up the good work. You’ll change the world one day; I just know it.
Julian accepted the invitation, visiting the Sanctuary in late August with his mother and a family friend.
“This all feels like a dream,” Julian said, looking around at the red rock canyons surrounding the Sanctuary.
During his visit, Julian toured the Sanctuary’s animal care areas, interacting with pigs, horses, bunnies, goats, and more, the release states. Later, he spent time with Castle at the Sanctuary’s adoption hub, where the duo met dogs and cats available for adoption.
While spending time with cats, Julian presented Julie with a check to Best Friends in the amount of $150 (the amount that was stolen from his lemonade stand) from Community-Police Relations Foundation.
He also told Castle he is raising money for a family friend who lost his home in the Maui Wildfires via his website.
Castle was clearly touched by meeting with the young entrepreneur.
“Julian is an incredible young man. His dedication to helping others is an amazing trait in someone so young, plus his business savvy is astonishing. I look forward to watching Julian continue to do great things in the world,” she said.
Julian was also impressed by his meeting with Castle.
“She was really nice. I could tell she had lots of sympathy for the animals,” he said.
After meeting Castle, Julian and his group took an adoptable Sanctuary dog named Kearney to the Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile for a sleepover. Kearney was a very well-behaved guest, cuddling with Julian and sleeping through the night.
Julian gave Kearney a huge hug upon returning him to the Sanctuary and heading home to New York. Several days later, Kearney was adopted, which made Julian very happy.
“I was overjoyed that Kearney got adopted. He’s one of the cutest ones there. How could someone not adopt him?” he said. “I want to say to Julie Castle, thank you so much for inviting me to Best Friends. I really enjoyed my stay. Thank you for helping all these animals in need.”
To donate to Julian’s Best Friends fundraiser, please visit here.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.