Meet the founders

Cullen and Brittany Brightwell who have called Mechanicsville, Virginia home since saying “I do” in 2016. They share their lives with their two fun-loving children, Hudson and Oaklynn, and their loyal German Shepherd, Myla. Their home is filled with laughter, love, and plenty of paw prints.   

Lifelong animal lovers, the Brightwell's faced profound heartbreak in 2023 with the loss of two cherished dogs, Maggie and Donner. That loss, while deeply painful, inspired a greater purpose. 

Together with their neighbor and fellow animal advocate, Kari Magner, Cullen and Brittany Co-Founded The Lucky Paw Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to honor the pets they’ve loved and lost. What began in grief has grown into a mission rooted in compassion, hope, and action—helping animals in need and giving them a tail to tell. 

Kari Magner, lifelong Mechanicsville resident and Co-Founder of The Lucky Paw Foundation, is a devoted animal lover and advocate. She has shared her life with many cherished pets, including Zoie, Gunny, and Gidean. Gidean was especially close to Kari’s heart as her trained service dog, quite literally saving her life. Losing Gidean in July 2023 was heartbreaking.

Since then, Kari has welcomed three cats and a rescue pup, Kenzie, who joined the family in December 2023. Kari believes the bond between people and their pets is unmatched—the purest form of love. In her home, dogs are always welcome; people are simply tolerated.