7-Year-Old Texas Boy Who Donated Piggy Bank to Vandalized Mosque Gets Surprise
— -- The 7-year-old boy who donated all the money in his piggy bank to a mosque vandalized in Texas recently had his act of kindness returned.
The young donor, Jack Swanson, went to the Islamic Center of Pflugerville last week after police reported that the mosque had been hit by a vandal who left torn pages of the Koran smeared with feces outside the entrance.
Jack handed over all his money -- $20 he'd apparently been saving in the form of pennies to get an iPad --- according to Faisal Naeem, one of the mosque's board members.
"Jack's $20 are worth $20 million to us because it's the thought that counts," Naeem told ABC News. "Jack is just a little older than my son, Ibrahim. If we have more kind-hearted kids like them in the world, I have hope for our future."
After Jack made national headlines for his generosity, international human rights lawyer and author Arsalan Iftikhar decided to thank him on behalf of the U.S. Muslim community.
He mailed an iPad to Jack, Iftikhar told ABC News today.
"I got in touch with [his mother] Laura through a lady at the mosque I knew, and Laura told me that Jack had been saving up for an iPad by getting 50 cents a chore," he said. "So I shipped an iPad overnight, and he got it the next morning."
Itikhar added that Jack was a "sweet kid" and that he was so touched by the 7-year-old's "message of solidarity" with the Muslim community.
"Dear Jack, you had saved $20 in your piggy bank for an Apple iPad but then a local Islamic mosque was vandalized so you donated your $20 to this local Texas mosque instead," Ifthikar wrote on Facebook. "Because of your amazing generosity & kind heart, please enjoy this Apple iPad with our sincere thanks. Love, The American Muslim Community."
The Facebook post included photos that Jack's mother, Laura Swanson, sent of the 7-year-old's excited reaction upon opening the gift.
Jack's mom did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for additional comment.
