A Life, Rededicated after 9/11

David Prown decided he needed to reevaluate his life, revaluate the things that mattered most to him. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Prown downsized his family's successful five and dime store in Red Bank during a time in which business was the best he'd ever seen, he said, in order to dedicate his life to volunteerism. With 9/11 serving as the catalyst, Prown has made his life’s focus the children of the Greater Red Bank area.

Now, Prown volunteers with the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, and Red Bank Charter School, just a few names among a laundry list of charitable organizations and events. Not a single day goes by without Prown participating in charity work. His volunteer efforts have been described as “tireless” by some of those who work with him every day and even his wife and the couple’s three adopted children, Prown admits thoughtfully, are sometimes are neglected.

Something changed in Prown on Sept. 11, 2001. There was no hate, animosity, misplaced rage, or even confusion following the attacks, just an overwhelming need to be a positive force in the lives of as many disadvantaged children as possible.