Jason Derulo wants you to want him -- live and in concert at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, that is!

On Saturday, Feb. 27, Derulo -- one of music's biggest pop stars -- is set to hit the scenically blessed locale for a “surprise” show to kickoff Hilton’s "Stop Clicking Around" campaign that highlights the benefits of booking with the hotel chain directly through its website, rather than bouncing around from travel site to travel site looking for the best deal. Perks include discounted room rates, access to “innovative digital tools” and the chance to RSVP to exclusive events -- much like this Derulo show.

Luckily, we’ve also got the coveted RSVP link too and we’re sharing it all with you now. Go here to get on the list, and in to one of the hottest shows in town! Hurry, as the list is limited to the first 2,000 people to RSVP! Once they're in, it's closed!

Derulo, who you’ve definitely heard all over radio/TV over the past few years, has really taken the entire pop genre over with last year’s album, “Everything Is 4,” which included the absolutely massive single “Want to Want Me,” as well as later singles “Cheyenne” and “Naked.” It was hardly the first time we’d seen and heard his name, as he also landed charting hits in 2009’s “Whatcha Say” and 2013’s “In My Head.” All reached the upper echelon of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

On May 5, 2012, he appeared on the season finale of Fox’s “American Idol” TV show, and more recently, he was tapped as one of the three judges on the 12th season of “So You Think You Can Dance?” alongside fellow judges Nigel Lythgoe and Paula Abdul.

Needless to say, he’s a household name and when given the chance to see a star of this magnitude on the big stage, it’s a no-brainer.

RSVP now (if you still can!), and go see Jason Derulo on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel (1 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101). Doors open at 5 p.m., and the concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

This week, the San Diego Chargers announced their support for a plan that would put a new stadium downtown, not in Mission Valley.

The team is backing the Citizens Plan, an existing proposal that would, among other things, raise the hotel tax slightly and make it possible to build a new stadium and an expanded convention center downtown.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer is against that idea. He’s said the plan is unrealistic. Plus, he recently pledged that he’d be working on a plan for a different kind of convention center expansion.

Both of the conflicting initiatives could end up in front of voters on the June ballot.

On this week’s San Diego Explained, VOSD’s Andrew Keatts and NBC 7 San Diego’s Catherine Garcia break down the Chargers’ big decision and talk about what comes next.

Click here if you are using our mobile app.
 

When Cheryl Packer went shopping for her daughter's wedding dress she didn't want to break the budget.

"People will spend thousands of dollars on a dress," said Packer, "that's not an option, we're trying to keep it under a thousand."

Cheryl went to a small shop in Escondido that carries dresses with a little history.

"It's the same quality, it's the same look, it's the same everything it's just a different price tag," said Stacy O'Neill.  

She owns Something Old, Something New Bridal Boutique on West Grand Avenue in Escondido.  The store carries dresses that were used as samples at higher end wedding stores. The dresses were tried on by customers who then ordered their own dress.  But O'Neill says the sample dresses a perfect for any bride looking for designer names but not designer prices.

"These are not used items but they have been tried on," said O'Neill.  She says some dresses may have make-up stains or a beading that's loose but they clean and refurbish them before putting the dresses up for sale.

Since they are sample dresses most are between the sizes of 8 and 10 but O'Neill says a good seamstress can fit the dresses to most sizes.

"If you are going to save three or four thousand dollars," said O'Neill, "think about what you can spend in alterations to make it customer for yourself."

But samples are not the only inexpensive dresses in the store. There is also a section with wedding dresses on consignment.  People can bring in their new or used wedding dress and sell it inside the store. The owner and store share in the profits of the sale.

"You're going to wear this maybe once for four or five hours and hopefully you are going to bring it back and we'll consign it for you," said O'Neill.

Cheryl Packer brought in her wedding dress from the 1980s.

"It was beautiful the day I wore it," said Packer, "I'm not super sentimental and my girls are choosing a different style than what I chose."

Most of the dresses in the store sell from between $100 and $1,000.

A California Highway Patrol pursuit in San Diego County reached speeds of up to 130 miles per hour Friday, CHP officials said.

A CHP officer tried to pull over a driver for speeding on southbound Interstate 15 at Old 395 Highway at 5:22 p.m.

But the driver took off, so more officers were called in to pursue the suspect.

As they sped down I-15, officials said the driver reached 130 mph until traffic slowed the suspect down near Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

CHP officers tried to block in the suspect using the traffic.

They were finally able to stop the man and arrest him Friday evening.

“You lied about the students at Trump University,” Marco Rubio said in one of a series of heated exchanges between GOP front-runner Donald Trump and the Florida senator.

It was the first time the federal civil lawsuits involving the candidate’s namesake have been highlighted in the Republican presidential debates.

The two class action lawsuits are scheduled to be heard in San Diego courtrooms later this spring or early summer. The allegations outlined in court documents are that Trump University, which took in over $40 million, was fraudulent and deceptive.

Trump’s attorney Alan Garten told CNN many Trump U students were satisfied with the courses and any lack of success can’t be blamed on the school. The attorney told the Dailymail.com “a lot of people did very well.”

In the GOP debate Thursday, Rubio called the school a “fake university” and said “there are people who borrowed $36,000 to go to Trump University and they are suing him now.”

Trump countered by saying “I have won most of the lawsuits, they (Trump University) actually did a very good job.” Trump then repeated that he has won most of the lawsuits.

“I could settle it right now for very little money but I don’t want to do it out of principle,” he said.

NBC 7 fact-checked this claim checking federal court records associated with the long running lawsuits. The first was filed in 2010.

According to court records:

• A team of Trump attorneys filed a motion to dismiss both of the class action lawsuits but lost.
• A motion filed to dismiss Donald Trump from the case was rejected by the court.
• The Trump legal team fought but lost their effort to fight the certification of the class action lawsuits, which let the class action lawsuit begin. The attorneys then asked the court to reconsider the earlier decision and decertify the lawsuit but the court turned them down. Trump’s attorneys attempted to appeal this decision to the 9th Circuit in California but the court denied their request for permission to appeal.
• Trump’s attorneys did win one court battle: they asked and the court agreed that the liability for each student’s case could be determined separately.
• The Trump team filed a defamation claim against a Trump University attendee, Tarla Makaeff, who represented all the former Trump clients in one case. The claim was dismissed.
• Trump’s been ordered to pay attorney fees and costs of almost $800,000.

El Cajon Professional Firefighters Foundation (IAFF) is hoping to raise $15,200 to bring a classic fire engine back to its former glory.

The money raised will go toward the restoration of a 1950 American LaFrance fire engine’s motor and radiator, which need to be completely replaced, according to the foundation's mechanics. The IAFF still needs an additional $6,000 to reach their goal to successful completely the restoration.

Beyond the cost of the parts, all of the labor will be free and performed by active and retired firefighters.

Donations are tax deductible and any donations of $1,000 or more will be given an engraved plague on the fire engine, the organization says.

The foundation hopes to continue using the engine in community events such as parades. The El Cajon firefighters also hope the vehicle will play a role in raising awareness and fundraising for organizations like Make a Wish and the Burn institute.

This classic fire engine was used for local events even before IAFF owned it.

Gil Buxton, the original owner of the engine, used the vehicle in the Mother Goose Parade during his time as the parade’s president.

The 66-year-old engine was donated to the association by Gil’s wife, Meg Buxton, in honor of him after he passed away from pancreatic cancer. Gil used to restore classic cars as a hobby. The vehicle was in a poor condition when he bought it but he was able to completely restore it with almost exclusively original parts.

For those interested in donating, checks are payable to The El Cajon Professional Firefighters Foundation and should be mailed to headquaters at El Cajon Firefighters Union, Local 4603, 100 E. Lexington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020.

Fans had their phones ready for selfies on Friday afternoon as Gerard Butler made a cameo at Camp Pendleton.

Butler greeted  a large crowd of Marines, sailors and fans on Friday afternoon who came out for his visit. Butler was at the base to promote his new movie, “London Has Fallen.”

The actor known for films “P.S. I Love You,” “Olympus Has Fallen” and “Law Abiding Citizen” came for a screening of his new movie at the Camp Pendleton Base Theater.

The movie will be released in theaters on March 4. It’s about a terrorist attack in London that kills the British prime minister and a Secret Service agent’s quest to bring the U.S. president to safety.

He was sure to spend a lot of time with fans, posing for a number of selfies and chatting it up with service members.

The mayor of Santee sat on one end of the long board room table. A representative from Tijuana sat across from him. To his left was a tourism expert from Rosarito and an official from Tecate.

Friday marked the ninth meeting ever of the so-called Border’s Committee, a joint meeting of U.S. and Mexico officials to discuss border infrastructure projects.

Among the ideas discussed was a four-year bi-national university in Chula Vista. It’s an idea that was first pitched about 10 years ago, according to the project consultant.

Denise Ducheny, a former state senator, now says 375 acres of land have been secured for the project. It’s located in Eastern Chula Vista, east of State Route 125, west of the Olympic Training Center and about four miles from the international border.

“The elementary school district in Chula Vista already has 19 schools with dual language immersion. We want those same kids to grow up and have a college they can go to," said Ducheny.

She said recruiting has started to identify potential partner institutions.

“How it gets shaped, I think, is still up to creativity. So at this stage, we’re saying here’s a vision, come help us, universities, think about what part you could play and how you might make this work,” said Ducheny.

Also discussed at the meeting was a plan to create a Rapid Bus Transit system in Tijuana. Design plans show it would cover 30 percent of Tijuana with 127 routes.
 

A man was arrested in Long Beach, California, this week, accused of impersonating police officers across the state – including officers in San Diego.

On Tuesday, detectives with the Drug Investigations Section of the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), as well as FBI agents, served a search warrant at a home in Rolling Hills, California, in search of suspect Jayson Carter, 42, who was wanted for allegedly posing as police officers.

Carter was arrested at the home. There, detectives also recovered evidence linked to the cop impersonation case, including false identifications representing state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Carter was booked into Long Beach Jail on $35,000 bail on counts of impersonating a police officer and carrying a concealed, loaded firearm. He posted bond later that day.

According to investigators, Carter may have acted as if he were an officer in San Diego and Los Angeles counties, as well as in Northern California. He was known to drive vehicles resembling unmarked police cars.

Investigators say Carter may have contacted victims throughout California, possibly detaining them as he posed as an officer. Police are not yet aware of specific victims linked to Carter, but detectives do believe victims exist. Anyone who may have been detained by Carter should contact authorities, including LBPD Det. Dylan Lobascio at (562) 570-7221.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) says are no reports linked to this case locally at this time. An SDPD spokesperson said Long Beach detectives found uniforms in similar fashion to SDPD uniforms in Carter's possession.

The investigation is ongoing.

A Kansas woman was charged Friday with giving guns to the felon who shot up a Kansas plant, federal prosecutors said.

Sarah T. Hopkins, 28, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transferring the AK-47-style semi-automatic rifle and a Glock 40-caliber handgun to ex-boyfriend Cedric Ford, 38, NBC News reports.

Ford killed three people and wounded 14 Thursday at Excel Industries in Hesston, where he was killed as well.

Prosecutors said Hopkins knew Ford was a convicted felon and was not allowed to have the firearms. Court records show that Ford was a felon who previously lived in Miami and was on probation with a series of convictions in Florida, including burglary in 2000.

A "play fight" at Lincoln High School in San Diego escalated into a brawl that sent a school police officer and several students to the hospital Friday, students told NBC 7.

The large fight broke out at the school located at 4777 Imperial Ave. around 12 p.m. – right in the middle of the daily lunch break.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) officials confirmed a total of six people, including the school police officer and five students, were among those transported to hospitals due to the melee. The officer suffered a head injury, officials confirmed, while four of the students were hurt by pepper spray and the fifth was injured by a Taser.

Officials said the school officer was struck from behind and punched on the back of the head by a student and, as a result, suffered a concussion.

Other students also suffered minor injuries, SDFD officials said, but those students were evaluated or treated at the scene or released to their parents.

In all, six ambulances were dispatched to the school and about 20 people were involved in the fight. It is unclear, at this point, what caused the brawl but that is under investigation. No weapons were involved.

Two minors were taken into custody at the school, one for assault on an officer and the other for vandalism.

Multiple students said the situation began when a group started "play fighting" at lunch.

"My daughter got pepper sprayed, all because of play-fighting," said parent Yolanda Lewis. "The teachers took it very serious; the kids were just playing and they ended up being tased."

School police responded to the situation first, and then officials with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and the SDFD were called in to assist. Medics were also called to the scene.

Officials could not confirm how the fight began or how many kids were involved.

The captain of the school police agency said that when he arrived at the campus, there were between 200 and 300 students lingering on the quad. Not all of those students, however, were involved in the fight.

By 2 p.m., parents were lining up in front of the school, waiting to pick up their kids.

Parent George Luzero said two of his children were hit by the pepper spray.

"They weren't even involved," Luzero said. "The cops keep telling us that maybe they were in the way. I mean, don't they have control over the pepper spray?"

Meanwhile, one person on social media claiming to be a witness said the incident was not a brawl at all, but rather escalated when a school officer used a Taser on a student as the student was backing up. It is one of several witness accounts, but police have not confirmed any.

LHS senior Emmanuel Iheke told NBC 7 he is disappointed that people often associate his school with these types of incidents.

"I would like people to know that this is not Lincoln High School," Iheke said. "That Lincoln High School died about 10 years ago. This is a new Lincoln High School and nobody can see it because we have cameras coming and we have this. They think we're all delinquents, they think we're all violent, they think we're all aggressive. They think that we're not going anywhere, that we'll just go to prison. But that's not the truth."

This marks the second time since Wednesday that police and medics have been called to the high school.

In an unrelated case Wednesday, a 17-year-old Lincoln Park High School student was struck and injured by a hit-and-run driver.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Imagine voting for your next mayor or president from a tablet or smartphone while sitting on your couch. A La Jolla company says they can make it happen and they’re using the Academy Awards as a perfect example.

“The Oscars are a really, really big thing. They make or break careers.They effect billions of dollars. So as much as the presidential is really important election-wise, so are the Oscars,” said Lorie Steele Contorer, CEO of Everyone Counts.

After 84 years of paper mail-in ballots, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences turned to Contorer's company four years ago with winning results.

"Our participation increases significantly when we use digital voting and it's a much better experience for the voter," said Contorer.

Everyone Counts brings state-of-the-art technologies to elections.

Already working at a limited capacity in public elections for overseas voters, the company is on the brink of getting federally certified, which would be a game changer.

The federal certification would allow states an opportunity to decide if they want to use the software program in November's general election.

Benefits of a digital system would likely include increased participation and faster results, but is it secure?

Workers at Everyone Counts spent the last decade perfecting security to ensure their system is tamper proof, company executives said.

"Every ballot is digitally encrypted with military-grade encryption so it's the most secure voting system you can have," said Contorer. "It is proven, the security is there, and we will continue to raise the bar."

Passing security tests is one thing, but San Diego County's Registrar of Voters Michael Vu says getting public buy-in will be the biggest hurdle.

“It takes just a few people to raise a question," said Vu. “I don’t see it happening here anytime soon.”

With the Oscars and Emmys on board and public election push, Everyone Counts doubled in size from about 55 employees to 110 over the past year, but Vu’s prediction for San Diego is likely true due to the tight certification standards in California.
 

The point man for the Chargers' efforts to build a new stadium downtown is no stranger to large, complex development projects.

Fred Maas chaired San Diego's Centre City Development Corp. -- so he knows the lay of the land the Chargers are targeting.

It’s a site that San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and County Supervisor Ron Roberts don't approve of.

Maas' political acumen will be tested in the cause of trying smooth their ruffled feathers.

"I'm confident that over time, when the plans evolve and they're made public and they see what we're attempting to do there, that we'll get some receptivity,” Maas said in an interview Friday. “I'm not in denial about how difficult it's going to be. But I've enjoyed a good relationship over the years and I hope to continue that today."

The 12-acre site under consideration in downtown’s East Village presents a tricky set of logistical and environmental challenges for the planned, hybrid stadium and convention center facility

An MTS bus yard will need to be acquired, relocated and the underlying property “remediated” of residual pollution.

A historic building – the old Wonder Bread factory that now houses Mission Brewery – will also have to undergo the same process.

Those are just two of 11 parcels that must be aggregated for the $1.7 billion project.

The Chargers are racing to get a financial scheme and citizens' initiative ready by March 24 to start gathering signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

The team's planning to invest more than $10 million in the campaign.

The ballot issues involved, juxtaposed with a proposed measure to raise hotel room taxes, figure to pose legal questions that could wind up in court.

"You just have to measure your risk and go forward with the best project you possibly can,” Maas told NBC 7. “I believe ultimately, if we're successful with the ballot, I think there'll be a change in the hearts and minds of the folks here, and we'll have a somewhat easier pathway.”

An avalanche of snow slid off a cabin roof in Idaho on Friday, burying three young girls, one of whom has died, officials said Saturday.

The "freak accident" happened around 5:30 p.m. local time in Macks Inn, a winter recreation community in Island Park, part of Idaho's Caribou-Targhee National Forest, said Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries.

A pair of 7-year-olds and a 2-year-old, all sisters, were under the snow for a half hour, Humphries told NBC News.

The 2-year-old died of injuries after she was rushed to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. 

When you are born on Feb. 29, you are a "leapling," and you only get to celebrate your birthday every four years. So when your day does finally roll around, you probably want to celebrate. A lot.  

This year, many companies are going out of their way to help with the celebration. And, in some cases, you don't even have to be a leapling to get a treat.

But first, why do we have leap year? Mostly to stay in line with the Earth's movement around the sun, according to history.com, and that requires the addition of 24 hours to the Julian Calendar every four years.

But don't worry about history. Go ahead and enjoy a dessert and a margarita. Here are some of the deals to look for on Monday. 
 

• Great American Cookies giving one free Individually Yours Cookie Cake to people with a Feb. 29 birthday.

• Hat retailer Lids will give free shipping on orders of $50 or more on Feb. 29.

• Legal Sea Foods is slated to sell two one-pound lobsters with two sides for $29.

• Margarita's Mexican Restaurant is offering fried ice cream and a Leap Year Margarita for $2.29.

• Athletic clothier Foot Locker is offering 15 percent off purchases of $70 or more on Leap Day

• Hard Rock Cafe has a "Leaplings Eat Free" menu with six entree choices.

• McAlister's Deli will give you a free freshly baked cookie.

• Olive Garden is doing a free dessert giveaway via a Facebook promo.

• Villa Italian Kitchen will give you a free slice of pizza, with valid ID.

• For those out West, Dog Haus is offering a free upgrade from a single to a double burger 

• Arby's will have a vegetarian menu for Feb. 29 only.  

• Urban Outfitters is having a $29 and below sale. 

• Travelocity will give discounts of up to 30% on hotels until Feb. 29. 

Police said three people were stabbed, and 13 were arrested, in separate incidents at a Ku Klux Klan gathering that turned violent in Anaheim on Saturday.

The stabbings broke out about 11 a.m. near the site of an planned afternoon rally at Pearson Park located in the 400 block of North Harbor Boulevard, according to Sgt. Daron Wyatt with the Anaheim Police Department.

Police had said Friday that the department was aware of a KKK "walking protest" planned at the park for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and that the group had held similar rallies before in Orange County. "APD will be monitoring the situation for any violations of law," the department said on its Facebook page.

The attacks began when a group of Klansman pulled up in a vehicle near the corner of Cypress Street and Harbor Boulevard where a group of counter protesters had gathered, Wyatt said.

A Klansman stabbed a counter-protester in the chest with an eagle figure at the end of the flag, according to Wyatt. The protester was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

About one block away, another protester was allegedly stabbed by a Klansman, who was later taken into custody. The protester's condition was unknown.

Counter-protesters stomped on Klan members, injuring them, Wyatt said.

Police said six Klan members and seven counter protesters were arrested following the brawl.

Firefighters also treated another protester who suffered a minor stab wound.

According to the Anaheim police Facebook post, the KKK rallies typicaly involve literature being passed out – a process that is protected under the First Amendment.

"It is not uncommon for these groups to place their literature in yards and driveways in the surrounding area prior to or immediately following their gathering. This dissemination of literature is not illegal," the post says.

Editor's Note: Police initially told NBC4 that a KKK member was stabbed, but later said a counter-protester was the stabbing victim. This story has been updated.

To Kansas shooting survivor Melissa Torres, her co-worker who stormed inside their workplace and indiscriminately opened fire with an assault rifle looked "cold" and "evil," NBC News reports.

Torres, 21, was in gunman Cedric Larry Ford's line of fire when he burst into Excel Industries Thursday. She got a quick look at him before she made a run for it, but was shot through the hand and suffered back and hip injuries.

Ford was killed by the first police officer on the scene, Harvey County authorities said. The violence he unleashed — ending with three dead and more than a dozen injured — is now seared in Torres's memory.

"He looked like he was ready to go do damage," said the mother of two, who also told NBC News about his behavior the day before the shooting.

A Camp Pendleton Marine died Friday night after slamming into a semi-truck north of the base, the California Highway Patrol confirmed.

CHP said at about 8:05 p.m., a 22-year-old Marine was driving his 2006 Chevy Silverado truck north on Interstate 5.

As he approached the commercial vehicle inspection area at San Onofre, he didn't seem to see a 2000 International Big Rig slowing down to enter the facility.

The Marine collided with the back of the semi-truck and became trapped underneath it, CHP officials say.

The man, who was from Kayenta, Arizona, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 57-year-old driver of the semi-truck was not injured.

At this point, CHP officials do not know if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this crash. It is still under investigation. Officers shut down two lanes of I-5 following the crash.

As of Saturday morning, the Marine's name had not yet been released.

As a doughnut shop in Linda Vista was robbed at gunpoint early Saturday morning, one employee said all he could think about was his family, and coming out of the ordeal alive.

“A lot of things come to your head. I was thinking about my family,” Angel Yanez, the victim of the robbery, told NBC 7. “I have kids. And I was thinking about them because when somebody points a gun at your head, you’re thinking other things. You’re thinking you’re going to die or something.”

At around 4:45 a.m. Saturday, an unknown man wearing a mask and armed with a gun entered the Yum Yum Donut shop located at 6925 Linda Vista Rd. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) says the suspect pointed a gun at Yanez, the clerk on duty at the time, and demanded money.

Yanez said his first reaction was to run. So, he ducked down and ran into the kitchen to get away from the masked man. He said that’s when the suspect began yelling at him to come out. Frightened beyond measure, Yanez said he stayed hidden in the kitchen.

Moments later, Yanez said the man cut the wires connected to the cash register and stole the entire register. The robber then fled from the shop, running away eastbound on Linda Vista Road.

Yanez was not harmed, but understandably rattled by the scary situation.

According to him, the suspect was wearing a black hoodie, jeans and a blue bandana covering his face. He was approximately 25 years old.

The case is under investigation. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. As of 11 a.m., the robbery suspect remained at large.
 

A University of San Diego (USD) student who lost his eyesight in a hit-and-run crash has now gained many things: a canine companion, loyal friends and newfound confidence.

Michael Girard, an undergraduate student majoring in sociology at USD, was involved in a life-changing crash in the late 1990s. As he rode his motorcycle from California to New Mexico, Girard was struck by a car. The driver fled the scene, leaving him badly injured.

The next thing he knew, Girard was lying in a hospital bed. He soon learned the impact from the collision had caused him to completely lose his eyesight.

Nearly 20 years after the crash, Girard navigates the world using his other senses.

However, as a student on a college campus, being blind has been a bit of a challenge – and members of the university’s Sigma Pi fraternity could clearly see that.

For the past year-and-a-half, the frat has been working to raise funds to get a service dog for Girard through a project dubbed Operation Bow Wow.

With support from other Greek and student organizations across the campus, Sigma Pi was recently able to obtain a seeing-eye dog for Girard, a 19-month-old German Shepard named Eric.

Now, with Eric by his side, Girard’s life on campus has changed.

“I have greater mobility; I have greater confidence in crossing the street. Because I was hit and run down, I still deal with some post-traumatic stress of wondering where the other side of the curb [is],” Girard told NBC 7. “I don’t worry that I’m going to be hit and run down again.”

With the help of his canine companion, Girard said he also feels safer. And, with so many friends and fellow students by his side, he’s also never felt more loved.

“I’m still overwhelmed by so many people’s outreach. The support has touched me in ways that I can’t even begin to describe,” Girard said. “The kind support of the people from Greek life – that I find a new life with Greek life – and it can enable me to transform my very challenging life into a very remarkable life.”

Operation Bow Wow was spearheaded by Sigma Pi member Jesse Nebrez, who has become a good friend to Girard.

Nebrez said he and his friends would often see Girard around campus, walking with his cane, and help guide him to class or the cafeteria.

The two got to talking and one day, Nebrez asked Girard why he didn’t have a service dog. Girard said he’s on scholarship at USD, and while he qualifies for a service dog, he didn’t have the means to pay for the costs that come with having a service companion, including medical care and food.

Nebrez mobilized his frat brothers and Operation Bow Wow was hatched.

“We thought it’d be a good idea to try to make his life a little bit better. He’s been through a lot. Knowing that we could make a difference for him, to get him a guide dog that could be with him when students are not able to help him out, that was a cause everyone rallied around,” Nebrez told NBC 7.
“It was incredible to see how many organizations knew Mike, and wanted to help get him that guide dog.”

The word spread quickly, and through an online fundraising campaign, the fraternity was able to raise $10,000 to cover expenses for Girard to have a guide dog.

A member of a USD sorority reached out to her father, local veterinarian Dr. Sarbjit Singh of Animal Medical Hospital of Poway, who pledged to provide medical care for the service life of Girard’s dog.

Last month, Girard met Eric and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

“I was speechless when I finally saw Mike with his guide dog,” said Nebrez, smiling. “Within a year-and-a-half, you can pet the results of this campaign.”

Girard said he will forever be grateful to his friends at USD for banding together to help him.

Every time they guided him around the campus, Girard said the students helped him “not feel so awkward.”

“Most of the fraternities helped me before I tried to help myself,” Girard said. “I have been so honored to be a recipient of so much service from people associated with Greek organizations.”

Nebrez said the desire to help others is part of frat life – even though it’s not always highlighted.

“It’s always been there – that fraternities are trying to make their communities better. [USD] Toreros really do take care of each other. You see it with alums – with everyone on campus.”