North Shore "PIF"

Hello Everyone!
 
I’m writing to let you know about the recent North Shore –Pay It Forward campaign which involved North and West Vancouver ( population 170,000) here in BC, Canada.  It was launched Thanksgiving Weekend ( October 12th) and it ran til Dec 3rd.  A local printing business, Contact Printing, donated 9,000 colour postcards which had PIF suggestions printed on the back and  people could pick these up at any of the recreation centres in the area.  Once they had checked off a minimum of 3 PIF acts ( or written out their own), they could drop them off to be entered for weekly prizes as well as a chance for the grand prize, a two night stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Whistler. The local paper, North Shore News, was the media sponsor and they ran weekly articles on the program.    A local financial institution, North Shore Credit Union, donated a cash prize of $500 for the winner to donate to their favourite charity.  I got enough support from local sponsors for 3 weekly prize draws each week – bookstores, yoga studios, gift shops, coffee shops, rec centres, etc. A local artist donated a painting which was won by an elementary school for it’s overwhelming participation. A big thank you to the PIF Foundation for the bracelets and bumper stickers which were a great way to get the word out as well.  It was a huge success!  We had men, women, children, entire families, Girl Guides, as well as high school and elementary school participation.  I had never organized anything like this before and was most impressed with how effortlessly it all came together – people were so enthusiastic and keen to be part of it.  I look forward to an even  bigger and better campaign in Fall 2009 and until then, I and many others in my community will continue to PIF!
 
With love,
Vera
 
Vera Gibson
North Vancouver BC

Starbucks and "PIF"

I am employed close to a Starbucks in Sacramento, California at the corner of Howe Avenue and Arden Way.  One morning in November, I drove up to the drive-through microphone and placed my order.   When I reached the window, the young woman informed me that the "car in front of me" had paid for my order.  She proceded to tell me that all they asked was that I do the same for people behind me, Pay It Forward.  She informed me that I was the 14th person so far, but she had already received the order from the vehicle behind me and it was a few dollars higher than mine.  The thought that someone had already paid for me warmed my heart and I paid for the order from the vehicle behind me.    

Later that week I approached the drive through window and I asked if they knew how many people had Paid It Forward earlier week.   Three of the staff came running to the window with enormous smiles on their faces.  They informed me that 83 people paid it forward.  They also told me that it was only 83 because when #83 drove up, there was none behind him/her.   

I haven't forgotten that.  It was a warm feeling once again.  It is my understanding that someone comes up to the window once a week and pays it forward.  I am not a daily customer, so I have yet to receive another Pay It Forward at Starbucks.

I shared that story with one of my employees who informed me that he was crossing the Oakland Bay Bridge on his way to San Francisco and someone had paid him forward at the toll booth.   

Cross Guard // Cleaning Snow and "PIF"

I received a pay it forward wristband a couple of weeks ago. I work as a cross guard near our Elementary school and the weather was very cold and windy and snowy that day and  a friend of mine stopped by and gave us some hot chocolate and a wristband and ask us to pay it forward.  Wow , I thought that was a great idea.

So I went on with my day and went to work at the Elementary school. The weather was still very snowy and blowing.  It was coming down pretty good. As I went through my day I kept in mind some way that I could pay it forward. As I left the school that day, the storm had stopped and there was snow everywhere. I started cleaning the snow off of my suburban and it was alot. I looked around the parking lot and seen all the cars there and thought how tired the teachers would be after school that day, being that it was the last day before christmas break. They had been having parties and sing-alongs. So I thought I should clean the snow off all of teachers cars. That was a great service that day. It felt good to know that I would be helping them out. I eventually got all the cars cleaned off, from all the snow that had drifted and piled throughout the storm.

Later that day I recieved a phone call from someone at the school. And she told me thank you for cleaning off the cars, I just said you are welcome, now pay it forward. =) She gratefully said I definitely will. I have felt very good about what I did that day and it was a great example of service to those who were coming and going that day and to my 6 year old daughter who was with me and helped until she was too cold.  I am thankful for that friend who gave me that wristband that day and I am now always looking for ways to pay it forward.

I am also the PTA president at that same elementary school and the thought came to me, how wonderful that it would be for the students and faculty at Greenville Elementary to start the pay it forward in our community.  I know it would be a great opportunity for service to blossom in our community.  I love this idea of the wristbands.

I would like the PTA to be able to give this as a pay it forward to the school.

Best Regards,

Carrie Kirby =)