Paying if Forward Always!

On December 1, 1991, I was taking my 7 year old daughter to the theater to see a movie with some friends. It had snowed and the roads were slick. I was on a highway less then a mile from my house when a deer ran into the road. It ran into the car in front of me which caused the deer to flip over that car and onto my car. I tried to severe to miss the deer but lost control of my car. At the time, we were crossing a bridge. My car went up the guard rail and sat there for what seemed like an eternity. I yelled to my daughter to hold on that "we were going over" and just at that time, the car rolled off the guard rail and into the river. The car landed on it's top, crushing the sunroof first then rolled from side to side, caving in both doors. The car was quickly filling with water. I tried finding my daughter who was in her car seat in the back of the car but could not find her through the water and glass that were coming in. I tried opening the doors but they were jammed. I literally laid back in the car and waited to die since I felt that I had no other option. At that time, I saw, what I call a vision. I'm honestly not sure what it was that I saw in the car but I do know for fact that it told me that if I didn't get out, my daughter would die. I sat up and started trying the doors again. It was no use. I finally gathered enough strength and punched out the drivers side window. (All the emergency personal told me that this was impossible, I couldn't of done that but yet they couldn't explain how it was broke) I ran up the embankment screaming for help. At that time, I looked and two young men were running down towards me. I later found out they were the drivers of the car that had been in front  of me. They jumped in the water, pryed the passenger door open and saved my daughter. They received heroism awards from our mayor for their actions.  I thanked them over and over and wanted to do something to re-pay them. They j ust kept saying how they didn't want anything, they didn't consider themselves heros, they just wanted me to help someone else when the time called for it. So  for the last 17 years, I have done just that. I can never re-pay the gentlemen for saving my daughter but I can honor their only request and "Pay it forward"
 
Debbie - Elkhart, Indiana
Santa's Pantry
"Pay It Forward"
www.santaspantry.org 

Buying Gas and "PIF"

    Last night I had a interesting experience, I don’t usually ever work my 2nd  job on Thursday nights, but this week I did.

After work I went to the Chevron on Highland  Drive and Murray Holladay Road.  I put my Chevron card in the pump to fill up with gas and for some weird reason it wouldn’t authorize. That’s never happened before. I went inside to see what the problem was. As I was waiting in line I noticed the clerk was talking to a man that had a red one gallon gas can. He was trying to get one gallon of gas for his car that ran out of gas. For some reason they wouldn’t accept his check. It really cold, it was late and I was feeling really bad for him. I spoke up and said, “do you really just need one gallon of gas?” He said, “yes.”  I told the clerk I would buy his gas and to just put it on my card. He was so surprised- as was the clerk. I took my “PAY IT FORWARD” bracelet  off and handed it to him and told him to “Pay it Forward” to someone else. He was so overwhelmed! I filled his gas can and he went on his way. It was great!

Leslie

Allstate "PIF"

The Specialty Operations Division (SOD) of Allstate, located in South Barrington, has a committee that organizes events for Employee Recognition.  That committee is SOAR (Specialty Operations Activities & Recognition).
 
For the past several years, SOD employees were allowed to wear jeans on Fridays for a per quarter donation.  Normally, these donations were sent to various charities using the first and second quarter collections.  The third and fourth quarter collections are used to support the Allstate Adopt-A-Family program.
 
In early 2008, SOAR was brainstorming alternate ideas for the first two quarter donations.  The “Pay It Forward” idea was suggested to encourage the employees in the division to become more personally involved in the community - not just send a check to an organization.  Allstate has always been actively involved in the surrounding communities and encourages their employees to participate.   
 
We kicked it off by showing the Pay It Forward movie.  “The premise of the movie is one that any person can implement in his or her own life, at any time. It begins with doing a favor for another person-- without any expectation of being paid back. Indeed one would request that the recipient of that favor do the same for someone else: ideally for three other people. The unconditional favors can be large or small. It doesn't have to be a big thing. It can just seem that way, depending on whom you do it for.”
 
5 organizations/families were chosen for us to help:
 

• From the Journey from Pads to Hope organization, a family was chosen, a father with a young son who lived in a shelter and was having difficulties getting to work due to car trouble.  

• Another family was chosen which consisted of a man and his elderly mother whose home was deemed uninhabitable due to poor living conditions (to put it mildly).  They were on the brink of being evicted. 

• Kaitlin Cardin Cancer and Family Assistance Fund - A young girl, fighting cancer, was also chosen.  Her family is struggling to pay all of the expenses that are NOT covered by insurance – for instance, the gas to get her to and from her treatments, along with co-pays on her insurance because it doesn't cover 100% of any of her medical costs or her prescriptions. 

• Alden Poplar Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center – This is part nursing home, part rehabilitation center and also The Pathways Program offers person-centered care to people with dementia by acknowledging they have their own life history, talents and interests. This is accomplished in a loving, supportive and safe environment through a partnership with family, friends, the community and our staff. 

• Home of the Sparrow, McHenry County – This organization helps women and children move from the trauma of homelessness into lives of stability and independence.
  

In order to provide these groups/families with the help they desperately needed, we wanted to raise additional money.  Many fundraisers were held including; walking taco’s, a pizza party, hot dog & chips sale, silent auction, spare change collection, lemonade & popcorn stand, millennium raffle, bingo & bagels, and a recycle/used books/crafts and bake sale.  In addition, we invited many outside vendors into our office, with the agreement that a portion of their sales would be donated to our charities.  With these fundraisers, thousands of dollars have been raised so far, and we’re not done yet.  
 
In addition to fundraising, a group of eight SOD Employee’s and family members have spent  nearly every Saturday since May working to clean up one of their homes. Nearly every room has been cleaned; the walls primed and painted, the kitchen and baths repaired the garage and yard cleared.  Work continues but on a smaller scale.   
 
A new gas barbeque grill was purchased for Alden Poplar Creek along with a contribution of $150 to help pay for their Hawaiian Luau.  Twelve SOD employees, along with some friends and family, volunteered at their luau – helping transport wheelchair residents, grilling the hamburgers, along with  serving and visiting with the residents.   
 
Although the Pay It Forward initiative was meant to encourage the employees of SOD to get more involved in the community, it had the added benefit of promoting volunteerism, team work, teaching tolerance, compassionate and understanding.
 
We are extremely proud of our accomplishments and know we could not have had the success we had without the support from our SOD Leadership group, Building Operations, who have kindly allowed us use of the property, and all the generous people at Allstate!

CHANNEL 4 PROJECT CHALLENGES TEENAGERS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

CHANNEL 4 PROJECT CHALLENGES TEENAGERS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As part of Channel 4’s Battlefront project, 20-year-old Tom Robbins will bring kindness and goodwill to the citizens of the capital when his ‘Do-Gooder Army Good Deed Desk’ opens today in London’s financial hub – the City. Amidst the current financial turmoil and economic uncertainty, Tom’s ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ campaign and his Do-Gooder Army aims to encourage members of the public to perform good deeds and promote consideration across the UK.  From 10:00am the Do-Gooder Army will be carrying shopping, helping with directions or even telling a joke in the hope of putting smile on the faces of some of the UK’s stressed out population.

Community spirit and trust is low.  When asked in a recent survey conducted by National Statistics, 48% of the people said they would rather “go their own way” than help their neighbors who may be in need. This is a shocking statistic and the ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ campaign aims to encourage a more positive approach to the way we treat each other.  Research has proved that it is good for an individual to help others. Researcher in the field of altruism, David G. Meyers, states; “Doing good makes us feel good. Altruism enhances our self-esteem. It gets our eyes off ourselves, makes us less self-preoccupied”. Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, in collaboration with National Institute on Mental Health and the National Institute on Aging in the USA, have produced evidence that doing good deeds actually makes a part of our brain feel pleasure and concluded that ‘“we feel good, and are rewarded by a dopamine pulse, when doing good deeds

Real-World Super Heroes PIF

Real-World Super Heroes PIF

   We started an after-school program called “Real-World Super Heroes” to provide K-2d graders with fun hands-on community service projects.  We do a different project each week and, after being reminded about the Pay It Forward concept by your web site, we decided it would make a great theme for one of our sessions.  It seemed a little counter-intuitive to help children in the city actually approach and talk to strangers but that is exactly what we did.  
    

We discussed with the kids how doing small acts of kindness can have a big effect, especially when those we touch decide to pay it forward.  We read “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed” by Emily Pearson which demonstrates PIF at an elementary-school level.  Then, we got busy making some beautiful origami flowers to give out in the neighborhood. Our "heroes" wrote inspirational words on the stems such as “Be Kind – Pass it On!”  Each child was also given a  PIF bracelet sent to us by Charley.  We talked about how to spot someone who might need an act of kindness, how to approach that person safely and what to say.  Then we hit the streets around in small groups to spread some flowers and bracelets. Our heroes received amazing, warm responses from their recipients, young and old! We came back to the classroom and discussed our experiences.  Several of the kids admitted, “I felt shy at first but once I did it, I felt really good.”   Other comments:

·        “One person already passed the flower on to her friend who had her birthday the other day!”

·         “One woman told us ‘It has been a long time since anything like this has happened to me.’”

·          “I got a hug!”

   Each "hero" in our class was given another PIF to take home to use to continue to Pay It Forward. We look forward to encouraging the kids and their families to participate in the big event on November 18. Thank you!
Sincerely,

Aimee Munsell and Mindy Miller

West Boca Raton High "PIF"

College Professor "PIF"

I am a professor at Pasadena City College, teaching Student Development.

Altogether this semester I am teaching 7 classes, one with 50 students...

This is the short tory of my class.  We pay it forward.

First we watched the movie...
the students laughted and cried, but all loved it.
they wanted to know more,

So Second, we went on the web and in groups evaluated and discussed the various
sites, including yours.

Third we wondered if it would work...

So we tried it.

Everyone had to do for three people and then explain to each what Pay t worward was
about. They wrote about each person... Many chose themselves as one of the
recipients of their good works. Each and everyone has changed. They have learned
such lessons as

Sharing is so much better than selfishness.
It makes you feel good to do meaningful things for strangers
It brings smiles to the faces of others
most important that it is contagious.

Three of the girls in my class got their bracelets today.

What a great class
What a great concept

Thank you with every fiber in me... I would hope all teachers would use this film as a
teaching tool. I bought copies for our staff and for several other schools.

You are in my prayers.

PS one of my students said today... "I've stopped counting...It has become a part of
me."

Now I feel like a winner.

Barbara Griffith
Pasadena City College

U of U Student "PIF"

Last year I volunteered to do service for the salt lake county aging services by driving elderly in county cars to doctors apointments.  One day the supervisor handed me a PIF bracelet and I thought that's cool (I've seen the movie so I knew what it was) I've worn it off and on. I tried visiting the .net site when it wasn't working. I hadn't thought about for awhile now till last week when I heard your interview on one of the country stations I was flipping through and for some reason stopped and listened.  I had no idea that you were from here and that you do this all on your own! That's amazing... I obviosly started wearing it again and would love to pick up a hand full to give out... I don't mind stopping by so you don't have to pay for shipping or ill give my address at the end... I am a UofU student that will hopfully grad. in may with an environmental studies degree, I think PIF and the enviroment go hand in hand, if people are good to each other then they will treat the environment better and if the environment is healthier people will be happier... anyway what's going on nov.18 and will there be any local gathering?  Anyway thanks for everything I now regularly read the PIF today blogs, it gives me hope...

Canyon Evans

Sam's Bar Mitzvah and "PIF"

My 13 year-old son, Sam, came home from sleep away camp this summer and we took him out to dinner on his first day back.  Our waitress was wearing a Pay It Forward wristband.  Sam asked her to tell him what her wristband meant.  That evening, Sam went home and began to research on-line the concept of paying it forward.  He's read the novel and really embraced the concept.



This past weekend, Sam was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah.  As part of his Bar Mitzvah, he was asked to write a creative prayer to tell people what he personally wishes for and then present a call to action for the people listening to his speech.  Sam decided to encourage our entire congregation to Pay It Forward.  Prior to Sam's Bar Mitzvah, we contacted the Pay It Forward Foundation to request 200 wristbands (thanks, Charley!), and at the conclusion of Sam's Bar Mitzvah Service, Sam distributed the wristbands to everyone there.



Below I've provided a written version of the speech Sam delivered to a packed congregation on October 18, 2008:



         I pray that people treat each other with kindness.  If people were kind to one another, the world would be a place without hatred, intolerance, cruelty, unhappiness and suffering.  If everyone treated each other with kindness, people would respect each other’s differences and would help each other out when times were tough.  THE WORLD WOULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE.

           Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a novel called Pay It Forward.  It was also turned into a movie.  Both the book and the movie are about a mere twelve year old boy named Trevor who came up with a simple but huge plan to make the world a better place.   In this plan, one person has to show spontaneous acts of kindness to 3 random people in need.  In return, the three people helped would ask, “how can I pay you back?”  But instead of taking something from them in return, you just say “pay it forward” by helping three more people with spontaneous acts of kindness.  In theory, this plan is supposed to grow from three people to nine people to twenty-seven people to eighty-one people and so on.  At around the 20th level, the world’s entire population will be helped.  And at the 21st level, the world’s entire population will be helped about 5 times.
            The idea of the book has been the inspiration for a real life organization called the Pay It Forward Foundation.  This foundation spreads the idea that you should do good things for others to repay the good that has happened to you.  I pray that everyone in this room leaves here and does three good things for other people.  They don’t have to be big things.  Little things can make a big difference.  And then, when the people you help ask how they can pay you back, tell them to Pay It Forward instead.  Together we can make the world a place filled with kindness.

Risa

NYC, New York

Tanzania "PIF"

Hi there!

Once i saw this movie, PIF, and i really liked the idea and told alot of people about it but some took it serious, very few though and some didn't. So i have ever looked for a way to get the idea to more people and in a more convincing manner but it's been hard then last week i did a search on google and found several sites, i was very Happy and what made me more was to learn about the PIF bracelets .  Back here in Tanzania, E.Africa people really like wrist bands and that will be like a super way for me to get through to them and leave them with something to always remind them to PIF and be good and try to change the world for the better.

Thanks alot,

Miku

"PIF" in Hawaii

Hello,

I was recently in Hawaii visiting my son Nik who is in the Army and deploying to Iraq. We were in the PX on his base paying for our stuff and there was a soldier in line behind us, he was asking to buy one stamp, the cashier told him he had to buy a book of stamps, she could not sell him just one. Then he asked her how much it was and when she told him he didn't have enough money. I had purchased several books of stamps a few months ago and sent one book to a marine I know in Iraq, I had used one book for myself and still had one book in my wallet, when I was putting my change from our purchases in my wallet the edge of the book of stamps caught my eye, I handed them to the soldier. You would have thought I handed him a gold bar or something! The cashier said " see that, mommy to one soldier is mommy to all" I didn't have a PIF bracelet one me and didn't even think of it when I did it. It made my son so proud and I only hope that if he is in a similar situation someone steps up and does the right thing. As we were leaving the PX I thought I wish I could stay there all day and do something for each soldier that needs just one stamp.

Kathy Manoudakis
Boca Raton, Florida

Anyone can "PIF"

My Story

Years ago when the movie came out, my mother was so impressed by it that she took all of her adult children and their spouses to the movie. Afterwards she gave each of us a heart shaped button and asked us to pay it forward.  At that time, things were tight for us financially but I really wanted to do something.  It didn't happen for awhile, but a few months later, my husband and I decided it was time to do something.  It was just before Christmas.  We weren't sure what we were going to do, but we wrote a letter explaining that our actions were a pay it forward, based upon the movie and the actions of my mother.  We made several copies of the letter and I kept them with me.  It was Christmas Eve and we were sitting at Village Inn having some hot chocolate and watching the families come in out of the cold after finishing their last minute shopping or other activities. We decided it was a good night to 'pay it forward' so my husband went and purchased some gift cards form the resturant, while I pulled out 4 of the letters that we had written. Then we sat there and watched the families and selected 4 families.  On our way out of the resturant, we quietly walked up to these families and said a quick Merry Christmas while leaving our small gift on their table and then walked out.  That was 7 years ago, and each Christmas Eve since then, we go back to the same restaurant and have our hot chocolate and pay it forward.  Some years have easier then others. There have been hard financial years, some times, it is trying to get there before the end of the day as we get busy, but it is something that I consider one of my best Christmas gifts each year.  I still have my heart shaped button my mother gave me all those years ago and try to make this something I do throughout the year, not just Christmas.  I think the only hard part of this is not being able to see the expressions on the f aces of the people as they read this letter, but my hope is that now that I have a daughter, I will be able to see it in her face as I teach her to pay it forward.

Thank you again for all that you have done.

Marci Sample

PAY IT FORWARD ST. LUCIA

Thanks very much for your support on starting PAY IT FORWARD ST. LUCIA.  I have received the wrist bands and I would just like you to know that this movement is the best thing to happen to the world today

It is already taking effect here in St. Lucia. Thanks alot... I will definately keep you posted on the development of the movement. If I have any questions, I hope that I'm free to ask.. take care . 

GOD BLESS.

"PIF" in the Post Office!

Dear "PIF",
I am a student of counseling class at Pasadena City College in California. I watched the "PIF" at my class.  It is good ideas to help someone and ask them do not pay it back instead of pay it forward.

  
One day I was line up at front of U. S. Post Office desk, a Chinese old lady want to apply a U.S. Passport but she can't speak English, so officer didn't understand what she was talking about. I asked them: "do you need help?" They said: "yes!" I helped them as a interpreter and they finished the paperwork in just few minutes. Not only they felt happy but also the people waiting on the line are all smile.  I was so proud myself because I helped the people that I don't know them and I believe that people will pay it forward to help others someday. We can make the world a better place.

Thanks "PIF"!

Qihua

Cookies-Socks and "PIF"

My pay it forward story. I was in Wal-mart where there was a mom with her 3 girls, when I over heard the mom tell the girls that she didn’t have enough money to buy the Halloween cookies and socks, she only had money left to get gas.  So I went and bought the cookies and the socks.  When I approached the Mom and her girls and explained what the PAY IT FORWARD was we were both in tears, her because she thought it was such a kind thing to do and me just knowing that something so small could make such a impact on someone.
 
Peggy 

Candy and "PIF"

my story:

hello, my name is Marin, i am 13 years old and i live in Denver, Colorado. today i was at a resturaunt called annie's. at annie's they have a counter with all sorts of candy. we were deciding what we wanted to get, and how we were going to get it when a man came up. he was young, maybe in his late twenties to his early thirties. "what do you guys want? i'll buy it for you." we were shocked. "what?" my sister asked.

"pick out candy...i'll buy it for you" 

"ok, but how will we pay you back?"

"you dont have to pay me back, just pay it forward."

we all picked some candy and thanked the man graciously. 

"im gonna pay it forward!" my little brother said. and tonight we plan to pay it forward and pass the word to as many people as we can.

my request: 

i would really like to spread around paying it forward, and i was wondering if you could send a couple bracletes to:

THANK YOU!!!

"PIF" is Easy! Lighten Somebody's Load!!!

I have a little story of when I was at walmart and it touched me so much. This lady was buying some stuff, just a few things, looked at the young couple w/ two babies behind her and said is that all you’re getting? They had two big things of diapers, and oh my gosh are they expensive, and I think some milk. The couple said yes and she asked me to scan there stuff to, so the young couple put it up for me to scan and the women paid for it and walked away. As the young couple put there stuff in there cart they said thank you to her as she walked away, so I was confused, I thought they new each other so I asked of course and they said they’d never scene her before.

Liz Martin

"PIF" and Groceries

My name is Wendy, I am came from Pasadena City College in California.
 
Here is my story:
 
In a parking lot of a supermarket, I saw a pregnant woman was carrying five bags of groceries. It looks very heavy. I went up there to help this woman to carry some of the groceries to this woman’s car. She thanked me. I introduced myself to her. I briefly explained the Pay It Forward idea to this woman. She told me that this was the first time that she heard about this idea. She states that she will help other three people.


God bless you,

W e n d y 

"PIF" Always!!!

It is my honor to announce that the theme of my late father's service will be how he spent his entire life paying it forward. My family has decided to pass some of the bracelets out during the service and to encourage everyone to Pay It Forward. We have also asked that donations be submitted to the Pay It Forward Organization in my father's honor. If you can provide additional payment envelopes for those who do not wish to donate online, that'll only serve to better promote the cause.

The death notice announcing our donation intentions can be found here

www.legacy.com/washingtonpost/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=118304302

It is our goal to also include this information in the obituary.

Yours in charity,

Curtis C. Carwise
Ashburn, VA

Sojourner’s Center in Phoenix "PIF"

In September the residents and staff donated needed supplies to the Sojourner’s Center in Phoenix which is an abused women’s and children center. Pet food and supplies were collected for the Sun Cities 4 Paws Rescue and Shelter. 4 Paws was also invited to our retirement center to bring some of there furry feline friends to present their foster program to our residents. Fun was had by all. There was an escape by Ollie a big black cat that ran under the stage in out ballroom. He needed to be rescued again, little devil!!
 
We had large donations for both events and both organizations were very gracious and thankful for all the needed supplies. We also donated home furnishings to help the women at the shelter get started in their new lives. Items were also donated to the 4 Paws Thrift Shop to help raise funds for the shelter. All in all September was a great month for Paying It Forward here at Grandview Terrace.
 
Our next Pay It Forward event will be collecting gift cards from Target, Wal-Mart and gas cards for the victims of Hurricane Ike in Texas, a food drive for a local food bank and blood drive with the American Red Cross. October will be a busy month!!!
 
We always have a great turn out by our staff and residents. The Pay It Forward movement has rallied everyone to open their hearts and help others. Grandview Terrace is a great place to work and live. You can count on us to Pay It Forward in every way.
 
Melody Sandberg-Dixon
Grandview Terrace Retirement Center
Sun City West, Arizona

"PIF" Comes Back 10 Fold!!!

This week I unwittingly became the proud recipient of an individual's wish to "pay it forward." I don't have health insurance and was at the eye doctor unable to pay my entire bill for the services I had received that morning. I put down what I could after several efforts were made to lower my bill. I figured I would pay the rest on my follow-up appointment. I received "good news" later that day when the receptionist phoned me to tell me that an anonymous person paid the balance on my account simply because people had done nice things for him in the past. I was in total disbelief. My heart was pounding in my chest from the shock of being touched by an angel. The anonymous individual saved me $55 ... and he still had his own bill. When I think back, I recall an older white male standing to my left waiting for his chart to be brought to the receptionist. He must've overheard the details of my situation. I had no idea that Christ was about to move through that place as I stood there worried about the amount I was expected to pay. If this is related to a mere $5 I gave to someone as a 'thank you' 2 weeks prior, it came back to me tenfold!