Pay It Forward Stories
Starting the GIVE: Pay it Forward Day in Elkhart, Indiana
Apr 28th
You all know that foyble, Start the GIVE, and Pay it Forward are synonymous. The folks at foyble HQ are always looking for ways to start and spread the GIVE. When we see others committed to the same philosophy, we like to spread the word. Our web alerts went to DEFCON 1 this morning (acts of kindness ready for launch) when we came across this story from reporter Brandon Lewis from WNDU news out of Elkhart, Indiana:
image via WNDU
The city of Elkhart is encouraging people to help a neighbor this weekend as they declare Saturday “Pay It Forward Day”. The idea is to give back to your community, especially if you’ve received help.
There will be a bed race, a tug-of-war, and much more. The winning team will get to donate a check to their favorite charity.
Meantime thousands of students at Elkhart schools will be involved in assemblies to learn what it means to pay it forward and do good deeds for others. Classrooms will also teach kids that there are a lot of simple ways to make a difference.
“A lot of times things don’t cost money or very little money to do something nice for somebody,” said Debbie Micola from Santa’s Pantry Inc. “So that’s what we really try to get through to the kids that they can do something no matter how old they are.”
Micola introduced us to Art Jones, an Elkhart resident who exemplifies what it means to pay it forward. He’s helping make it easier for others to make a difference. Jones started a web site called “Basic Needs” that allows people to buy items at discount prices, and then he delivers them to local charities. For example, tooth brushes or canned food items. Even though he’s been battling cancer for several years, Jones says the project is good therapy.
“It gives me a good purpose in life.” said Jones. “I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had a lot of people helping me. And then what I’m doing hopefully will give something back to the community that’s helped me so much.”
Brandon’s original story with related video can be found here.
We love this idea and send out mad foyble love to the city of Elkhart, Debbie Micola, Art Jones, and all the other residents of Elkhart that are participating in Pay it Forward Day this weekend!
Posted by Jerry
Who knew? Habitat for Humanity is an international organization
Apr 26th
That’s one of two things I learned about Habitat for Humanity in this article about three Edmonton builders giving away three homes to the organization.
The other thing? Habitat does not give their homes away- homeowners must put 500 hours of sweat equity into the building of the home as a down payment. At least one parent in the family must have a full-time job and there is a mortgage to pay- although it has a zero percent interest rate. The mortgage must not be more than 25% of the homeowners total income. ”Habitat gives families a hand up, not a hand out”, says Susan Green, who chairs Habitat’s Edmonton board and is quoted extensively in the article.
Posted by Brian
via the Edmonton Journal – Local Builders Pay it Forward with donations
Habitat for Humanity- http://www.habitat.org/
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Thanks for reading the foyble blog and for your continued support of foyble. You can join our movement at www.foyble.com. You can reach the author of this post, Brian Foy, via email at BJFOY@FOYBLE.COM
“‘Pay it forward’ pays off.” The science of the GIVE.
Apr 11th
This diagram illustrates how a single act of kindness can spread between individuals and across time. Cooperative behavior spreads three degrees of separation: if Eleni increases her contribution to the public good, it benefits Lucas (one degree of separation), who gives more when paired with Erika (two degrees of separation) in period 2, who gives more when paired with Jay (three degrees of separation) in period 3, who gives more when paired with Brecken in period 4. The effects also persist over time, so that Lucas gives more when paired with Erika (period 2) and also when paired with Lysander (period 3), Bemy (period 4), Sebastian (period 5), and Nicholas (period 6). The effect also persists at two degrees of separation, as Erika not only gives more when paired with Jay (period 3), but also when paired with Harla (period 4) and James (period 5). All the paths in this illustrative cascade are supported by results in the experiments, and it is important to note that if Eleni decreases her initial contribution then her uncooperative behavior can spread and persist as well. (Image via James Fowler, UC San Diego)
The following article discusses a study by some pretty smart guys at UC San Diego and Harvard providing scientific evidence that acts of kindness are contagious. Now that’s the kind of cold foyble hopes everyone will catch! Read this for a dose of scientific inspiration.
by Inga Kiderra, UC San Diego:
For all those dismayed by scenes of looting in disaster-struck zones, whether Haiti or Chile or elsewhere, take heart: Good acts – acts of kindness, generosity and cooperation – spread just as easily as bad. And it takes only a handful of individuals to really make a difference.
In a study published in the March 8 early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Harvard provide the first laboratory evidence that cooperative behavior is contagious and that it spreads from person to person to person. When people benefit from kindness they “pay it forward” by helping others who were not originally involved, and this creates a cascade of cooperation that influences dozens more in a social network.
The research was conducted by James Fowler, associate professor at UC San Diego in the Department of Political Science and Calit2’s Center for Wireless and Population Health Systems, and Nicholas Christakis of Harvard, who is professor of sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and professor of medicine and medical sociology at Harvard Medical School. Fowler and Christakis are coauthors of the recently published book “Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives.”
An interview with the company that started a pay it forward foundation
Apr 7th
Last week we posted about three pay it forward stories we liked. The first story was about Legacy Credit Union’s creation of a website and foundation to encourage paying forward.
We liked the story so much we decided to contact Legacy and see if they would answer a few questions. They agreed! Below is a transcript of our email exchange. What I think you can take from this is that it is alright not to be cynical about institutions that have profitable motives but engage in social missions. Legacy Credit Union quite clearly understands that it plays an important role in its community and it takes that role seriously. You can also take from this exchange that engaging local businesses with strong values that understand the symbiotic relationship between business and community are excellent places to start if you wish to effect change in your community.
(Click HERE for the original story about the Legacy Foundation)
Michele Willis is the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Legacy Community Federal Credit Union. She’s a pastor’s wife, a Packers fan (living in Birmingham!), and a Mother of two boys.
Foyble: describe the values your company has that led it to be interested in a campaign like this.
Michele: Credit Unions were founded on “people helping people”. We’re a community credit union started in Birmingham and will never leave so it’s part of our job and service to the community to give back to them as they keep over 100 people employed daily and even growing each year. I’m grateful for a senior management team that immediately saw the vision and potential for this to the point that it is also a part of our internal culture here at Legacy. Continue reading the interview
A few pay it forward stories
Apr 1st
Below are three great stories about paying forward around the country. Enjoy!
A credit union has set up a foundation to sponsor random acts of kindness in Shelby County, Alabama. The only thing better than starting the give is PERPETUATING the give!
Orthodontists in Florida give patients credits towards their bills for volunteering in the community. These guys give their patients TWO reasons to smile! More >
