12-year-old nonprofit founder to attend State of the Union

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A 12-year-old boy who founded his own nonprofit corporation will be the guest of first lady Michelle Obama at the State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

Braeden Mannering of Delaware received an invitation from the first lady after founding his own nonprofit called Brae's Brown Bags that delivers healthy meals and water to homeless and low-income families. In addition to attending the State of the Union address, Mannering also met with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Delaware Senator Tom Carper.

Mannering tweeted in disbelief when the announcement was made on Sunday, writing, "Still pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming."

His first encounter with the first lady came in 2013, when he attended The White House for the Kids' State Dinner and came up with the idea for Brae's Brown Bags as a way to "pay the experience forward".

The organization handed out 4,610 meals between July 2013 and Jan. 6, 2016, according to its website.

Mannering will join other guests invited by Mrs. Obama including Lisa Jaster, the first female Army Reserve officer to graduate from the Ranger School, and Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that led to the legalization of gay marriage.