OC Triplets' Animal-Loving Business Earns Spot as "Big Break" Contest Finalists

David Hendrickson founded the animal-saving Hendrick Boards after he rescued a stray dog. The rest is animal-loving history.

By Alissa Medina and Stephanie Elam

| Monday, Aug 20, 2012 | Updated 10:27 PM PDT

Stephanie Elam

Hendricks Boards in Orange County is one of 10 finalists in a Facebook American Express contest to win $25,000 for a small business. As much as 40 percent of the purchase price from the t-shirts and skateboards they sell goes to animal rescue operations. Stephanie Elam reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on August 20, 2012.

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Orange County-based Hendrick Boards – an apparel and skateboard shop that donates a portion of its proceeds to animal shelters – was on Monday leading the pack of 10 small businesses vying for a $25,000 grand prize in an American Express Facebook contest.

Identical triplets David, Darren and Donny Hendrickson started their business in 2011, inspired by David’s mission to rescue a five-pound Chihuahua, named William, who was poisoned in the womb after its mother ingested household chemicals. David nursed the sick pup back to health, and the rest is animal-loving history.

"If we do win the big break, it would be huge for us," David told NBC4. "It would be huge for our network of nonprofits, and it would be even more huge for the animals we're able to save."

Hendrick Boards gives between 20 and 40 percent of its proceeds to animal sanctuaries, shelters and rescues across the country. The threesome sells skateboards, longboards and animal-themed apparel with messages such as "united by animals" and "be the voice for animals."

Hendrick Boards – the only company in the contest whose core mission includes charity – was chosen out of nearly 13,000 small businesses nationwide by judges representing Facebook and American Express OPEN.

Now it’s up to the public to vote for five companies they think deserve a “Big Break.” As of Monday, Hendrick Boards had about 22,000 “likes,” followed by New York-based Casale Jewelers with about 15,000.

The 25-year-old brothers are also up against Dutch Monkey Doughnuts, Knitty City and a Japanese dessert bar, among six other small companies.

Voting ends Aug. 31.

For making it to the top 10, the Orange County natives won $2,500 in Facebook advertising credits, a toolkit for business practices and a custom video by American Express.