'Pay It Forward' is a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde, but it's also an idea. It's an action plan within a work of fiction. But does it have to be fiction? We're hoping not. In fact, since the book was released in January of 2000, a real-life social movement has emerged, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. What began as a work of fiction has already become much more.
Reuben St. Clair, the teacher and protagonist in the book 'Pay It Forward,' starts a movement with this voluntary, extra-credit assignment: THINK OF AN IDEA FOR WORLD CHANGE, AND PUT IT INTO ACTION. Trevor, the 12-year-old hero of 'Pay It Forward,' thinks of quite an idea. He describes it to his mother and teacher this way: 'You see, I do something real good for three people. And then when they ask how they can pay it back, I say they have to Pay It Forward. To three more people. Each. So nine people get helped. Then those people have to do twenty-seven.' He turned on the calculator, punched in a few numbers. 'Then it sort of spreads out, see. To eighty-one. Then two hundred forty-three. Then seven hundred twenty-nine. Then two thousand, one hundred eighty-seven. See how big it gets?'
WHAT IS THE PAY IT FORWARD FOUNDATION?
The Pay It Forward Foundation was established in September 2000 by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and others to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and provide them with opportunities to do so. By bringing the author's vision and related materials into classrooms internationally, students and their teachers are encouraged to formulate their own ideas of how they can pay it forward.
The foundation impacts our world in a time when many people, though aware of the need for social change, are unsure of where and how to begin. The challenges facing today's youth are daunting. While discussion and planning are positive steps toward belief in social change, only the manifestation of plans into action proves to the imagination that change is possible, and that will and motivation can affect social growth. The Pay It Forward Foundation understands that good ideas inspire more good ideas; it serves both as a forum and a source of funding for the development and fruition of inspiration.
Students have the opportunity to identify what they consider to be the challenges of their communities. They tackle such problems as homelessness, pollution, youth violence, literacy issues, the loneliness experienced by long-term hospital and nursing home patients, and the alienation of today's at-risk youth from the community. The Pay It Forward Foundation provides seed money for such worthwhile projects.
To date, the Foundation has provided grants and/or materials to hundreds of schools in the U.S., Australia, Canada and numerous other countries. All Pay It Forward Foundation grants encourage and empower our youth to believe in themselves and their individual and collective abilities to shape the future.
If you would like to make a donation to the Pay It Forward Foundation you can do so by going to their website: www.payitforwardfoundation.org/home.html
OR by sending a check to:
The Pay It Forward Foundation
P.O. Box 552
Cambria, CA 93428
For more information on the "Pay It Forward" Concept visit http://www.piffinancial.com/payingitforward.html.
