Living a "PIF" Life in Style!

My son, Dustin Marshall Huffman, lived his life with a “Pay It Forward” style.

We watched the movie “Pay It Forward” many, many times over the years. I didn’t realize how much the movie affected the way he lived his life until all the stories starting coming out.

On June 30, 2009 Dustin was killed after falling 100 feet from a cliff at Gretchen’s Lock in Beaver Creek State Park. Only 3 weeks after winning a State Title in Track

Following the funeral on July 4th we received a phone call from a lady who proceeded to tell us, “You don’t know me but I met your son last winter when I was stuck in a snowbank. He broke his straps trying to pull me out but said not to worry, he’d be right back. In a short while he returned with some heavy duty chains and pulled my car out of the ditch with no trouble. As I approached him with my purse he got a big smile on his face and said, Thank you Ma’am but all I want is a handshake.” Since that time we have had numerous people come to us with similar stories.

We have created the “Dustin Huffman Memorial Scholarship” To Encourage Others to Respect Life, Work Hard and Help Others As Dustin Did.

I couldn’t be more proud of my son. I just wish he was still here with us. It is amazing the number of lives he touched in our community as well as the surrounding area. He was respected by his classmates and staff at Salem Senior High School. He was known as, “The Leader of the Pack” and “The One Who Saves the Day”.
There are many people who truly believe Dustin was an angel sent here to do just what he did: Inspire a community to “Pay It Forward”.


Last year a number of business and organization volunteered fundraisers for the scholarship without any prompting at all.

They came to us! Salem Dairy Queen donated $1.00 for every blizzard sold for one week. In that week they sold 650 blizzards. The Leetonia Dairy Queen hosted a car show which proved very successful. Dustin was friends with the owner of the Leetonia Dairy Queen’s daughter. He gave me the biggest compliment anyone could ever give a mother. He told me that he had really hoped Megan and Dustin’s friendship would develop into something more because he wanted Dustin for a son-in-law! (This came from a very overprotective daddy that didn’t like any guy she had ever brought home.) Country Singer Cheyenne West and numerous other bands hosted a benefit concert, Men of Faith put on a Breakfast of Champions program in Dustin’s Honor as well as a car wash fundraiser.

This year there are a number of activities planned.

They have retired his track number and are presently organizing a Dustin Huffman Invitational Relay. The Sprucevale Overlook, which sits about 50 yards up from the site of the accident, has been officially renamed “The Dustin Huffman Memorial Overlook”. There will be a dedication at the Park on June 26th with a variety of activities planned and music. There will also be another Benefit Concert on August 21st at Ponderosa Park and the Leetonia Dairy Queen is planning another Car Show.

Please take the time to check out the scholarship website and Facebook fan page.

There are many stories and tributes dedicated to this very special young man.

I hope you have the time to check out the information I have provided you. It has touched many lives.

Respectfully,
Michelle Huffman

Kids Helping Kids and "PIF"

Why support another charity or fundraiser? Because we’re DIFFERENT, here’s why…..

Kids Helping Kids started with a pull on a 10 year olds heart while watching a show on Child Trafficking happening on the other side of the globe. Young Tyler's plight to raise just $240 in order to keep one Ghanaian child out of trafficking for an entire year quickly grew into a fundraising bonanza bringing hope and inspiration to kids in need while beginning a legacy of uncompromised leadership and selflessness to various corners of the world. Children are our hope for a brighter future. As we build self-confident, reliant and accountable young adults that understand the importance of giving back, we will begin to see the movement of being a part of the difference.

But none of it could happen with YOUR support…………..

Did you know…..that in just under three years KHK www.KidzHelpingKids.org has:

Raised close to $100,000 in simple fundraisers run by kids for different causes:

· Continue to raise thousands of dollars for the trafficked children in Ghana, Africa

· Raised money for a local 6 year old with a rare medical condition & surprised him with a pizza party, check and his hero Chuck-E-Cheese!

· Sent 6,200 zip lock bags filled with candy, gum and mints to the troops in Iraq & Afghanistan

· Delivered 150 new stuffed animals to a local children’s hospital for Christmas

· Helped raise money for a local 4 year old with a rare heart condition needing a double organ transplant immediately (heart and kidney)

· Helped send books to remote villages in the Philippines

· Raised money for the Cardiomyopathy foundation with and for 2 local young boys with Cardiomyopathy

· Sent 500 backpacks filled with school supplies to the rescued children in Ghana, Africa for Christmas

· Started a campaign for homeless children world-wide with a young actor in Australia (played the young Hugh Jackman in last year’s Wolverine movie)

· Started an amazing kid recognition program with a local lifestyle magazine (110 Degrees Magazine, www.110mag.com http://www.110mag.com ) where a children are nominated for good things they do in their community and when they win, they get their one page story published in the magazine

· Launched a global pen pal program that is so popular we can’t even keep up

· Launched a leadership program for kids 5-18 teaching them integrity, honesty, accountability, giving back, time management, money management, etc.

· Given out more than 300 Pay It Forward Bracelets (you can too, visit http://www.payitforwardtoday.org


For more information email info@kidzhelpingkids.org

We are about to have a Kids Helping Kids Project Haiti Celebrity fundraiser in Hollywood, CA on the 28th.

100% of the proceeds from KHK Project Haiti is going to God’s Littlest Angels for the orphans in Haiti. You can see a testimony from some adoptive parents HERE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foRh4iUIkqo> .

Could you or your company use a tax write off? There is still time to save on your 2009 taxes and show compassion to Haitian Earthquake victims...Recently Congress unanimously passed the Haiti Assistance Income Tax Relief Act and President Obama signed the bill into law only a short day after. This Act allows taxpayers to deduct on their 2009 tax return instead of their 2010 tax return contributions made for the relief of victims in areas affected by the January 12 earthquake. The contributions must be made after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.

There are a couple of other sponsorship opportunities available, if interested I have attached them for your consideration as well as the event flyer. If you are not in a place to sponsor at this time please, no pressure, we completely understand.

Kids Helping Kids is presenting a star-studded benefit concert by partnering with some of the most influential young Hollywood celebrities in an effort to raise $500,000 for the orphans in Haiti. Actors including, Sammi Hanratty and Nathan Kress from iCarley, David Henrie (Wizards of Wavery Place), Savanna Outen (Disney 365), Ryan Ochoa from A Christmas Carol, Alyson Stoner from Cheaper By The Dozen, Caitlyn Taylor Love from I'm In The Band, America's Got Talent, Shanica Knowles from Hannah Montana, Chester See from Disney 365, Adrian R'Mante from Suite Life, Sarah McMullen from Last Ounce of Courage, Madisen Hill, Miss Missouri Jr. Teen, have all generously committed their time to attend. This unique red carpet family event is an opportunity for young stars to combine their talent and influence to make a difference in the lives of Haiti’s orphans and teach our youth the importance of giving back.

Moorpark California Proclamation of Pay it Forward Day!

Carnations + Valentines Day = "PIF"

Today I was driving home from my daughter's cheer gym...feeling very cruddy. I went into sudden respiratory arrest in June of last year and have had repeated unexplained respiratory incidents since then that have led me to about 60 ER visits. I was feeling sorry for myself and suddenly it hit me that it was Valentine's Day and there were people out there that had no one to give them anything to express their love for them. I stopped at the nearest florist and got a half dozen carnations and took them to the nearest nursing home. I walked in and ran into a lovely elderly woman named Sue who said, "Someone is getting some beautiful carnations today." To this I responded, "Yes, it is you." I thought she was going to weep. She gave me a big hug and thanked me. It made both of us feel so good that I went and bought 2 more bunches and took them to another nursing home. I met a lovely elderly man walking in the parking lot alone, walked up and handed him one bunch, hugged him and wished him a happy Valentine's Day and then took the other bunch in to the receptionist and asked her to talk to the staff and give the other bunch to someone that they thought might need their spirits uplifted today. I hope that it brought a smile to their face. I know it did to mine. If nothing else it took my mind off of my medical problems for a while and reminded me that there are so many other people out there hurting and in need that could use just a small gesture to lift their spirits. Please pay it forward!! The reward is infinite.

Tammy

17,000 Posts and Counting

My name is Greg Phelps. I am a professional voice over talent in Sandy UT. I read about you in the Adnews. I wanted to write and congratulate you on your success. I also wanted to talk to you a bit about your “PAY IT FORWARD” wrist bands. Up until recently I had all but given up on my fellow man. Seems like there are hardly any good people out there anymore. We have all but lost any semblance of manners let alone think of someone else besides ourselves, especially on the roads. (getting off my soap box)

Not too long ago I joined a forum called “Gearslutz” This forum is for musicians, audio engineers, etc….the topics are all centered around gear, hence the name. There are many famous people that frequent the forum. Who would have guessed that this group would be so generous?

Shortly after I joined a thread was started on the forum titled “More Free Stuff…..Let’s Do It Again” A guy by the name of Robinson Eikenberry started it out by giving away a Grace 101 preamp. This is not an inexpensive piece.

This started a snowball effect….it also has restored my faith in my fellow human beings….
Since the thread started on 16th September 2008, 02:03 PM over 17000 posts have been placed and the thread has had nearly 400000 views. Not much by many standards but what they have accomplished is amazing. They have started their own fund raising group for various charities, they helped one poor family out to the tune of nearly 2000.00 and just recently raised 1700.00 to go to Haiti….and that is not to mention the many thousands of dollars in equipment that has been given away. I have saved the best for last. The best thing about this whole thing is that it has started a ground swell movement all over the world. The folks on the thread are from everywhere on earth. They spread the love, generosity and joy of giving and it is catching on like wild fire.

It’s fun to watch people come to the thread. I think initially many come in to pick up some goodies. Then they end up giving something away and finding out how good it feels.

I was so excited to see the bracelets. I was wondering how to go about getting some. I am not sure how many I need. I would like to spread them around the world.

Thanks so much for doing what you do to spread the message. It is my sincere hope that we are able to spread this to every one in the world.

West Boca Raton and "Snoop Dog"

Once again, West Boca High School 'Paid it Forward'! On February 5th, 2010, West Boca HS Pay it Forward club members had the chance to host Coach Snoop Dogg and his All-Star Football Team. The students were the perfect tour guides and assisted Coach Snoop's team while they were using our football team for practice. The day ended with a Pep Rally attended by the entire high school. Snoop Dogg and his team graciously received Pay it Forward bracelets. They liked them a lot and commented that the purple and white band matched their team's colors of Purple and Gold! We wish good things ahead for Snoop Dogg and his All-Stars as they Pay It Forward back in their hometown!!