Submit your 2017 Pay It Forward stories
On April 2, 2007 a little girl (Carla Morgan Wright) was born to Bobby & Jen Wright. This was their first child together and they were very excited. She seemed perfect in every way. 15 hours after she was born, however, a nurse said she heard a heart murmur. After an echocardiogram, Bobby and Jen were told then Carla had to go to NICU. They later learned that she had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (basically she had 1/2 a heart) and that she would need 3 surgeries if she were to live. She was life flighted to Salt Lake City where two days later she had her first heart surgery. Bobby and Jen were asked if they considered compassion care (the doctors did not expect Carla to live). She made it through that heart surgery and two more. Still, they waited for a heart for a heart transplant. Because of the short time they had to get to the hospital after the heart was found, they had to move to Seattle (from Cascade, Montana) to live near the hospital which means they had to change jobs, have one income so Carla could be cared for and they lost their insurance because it was a pre-existing condition. Finally, in 2011 (at the age of 4) she received a perfect little heart from a very special donor. Now, you would think that is the end of the story, and now they have a happy, healthy little girl.
But just because she got a new heart doesn’t mean all is well. There are so many more things that have to be done. Carla takes many types of medicine so she does not reject her heart and to stay well. She cannot be exposed to anybody that is sick because she is very susceptible to any sickness because of the medicine. She does run and play and goes to school when she is well. Recently, though, she had to have a stent put in her heart which is common for people that heart transplants. Jen sets a timer to make sure that Carla takes her meds right on time and she eats very well. As I said, there is still considerable care after a heart transplant and a heart lasts only about 10 years. We are all hoping for a breakthrough in research to make hearts last a lifetime.
They call Carla their $2M baby, but I’m sure it is much more than that now. They have made many sacrifices such as living in Seattle for the period of time they were waiting for the heart, selling their house and living in an apartment, and living with the stress of a child that is has heart problem. Still, they wouldn’t trade her for anything and they would agree that they are better people because of it. Bobby is my nephew and Carla is my grand niece. She is a wonderful, beautiful little girl with a very good sense of humor and an outgoing personality. She is very special to everyone whose heart she touches.
I gave the Pay It Forward donation to Bobby and Jen Wright to help with any expenses they have. They are very appreciative to the Foundation for all their giving. You make a difference!
Carole Armstrong
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in need
I donated the gift card to Helena Food Share because I heard that the elderly are helped by this program. After helping my own family and friends with this same problem of not having enough on their tables this seemed like the logical choice. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this.
Dale Argento
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Helena Food Share
I decided to give my Pay It Forward card to the Chelsea-Bailey Animal Shelter here in Butte, MT. The card will be used for buying supplies, toys, and other things for the animals of the shelter. I chose this because I feel what they are doing with in the shelter is amazing. The people who work there pour their hearts and souls into caring for and finding these animals forever homes. Jackie, who runs the shelter, works endless hours caring for and helping all of the animals residing there. She gets to know each and every animal that goes through the shelter so much so that when I walked in to give her the card, she remembered me and the Lab I adopted 2 years ago. I found that to be so touching.
Dena Hamry
Montana Resources
Cause: Chelsea-Bailey Animal Shelter, Butte, Mont.
I have been fortunate to be a multiple recipient of Pay It Forward. I have always donated my card to Animeals. They are a non-profit animal shelter in Missoula. They house homeless cats and help other animals area wide. They very much appreciate Pay It Forward. Thank you.
Steven Camper
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Animeals, Missoula, Mont.
I used the card to donate in the memory of a child of one of my high school classmates. He had an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was the same age as my little boy, and this young one has been in my thoughts daily.
Knute Hofsommer
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in need
I decided to give my Pay It Forward card to a single mother who has struggled getting to and from work due to car trouble. This card will help her fix her car so that she will be able to commute to work and provide for her family. It is an amazing thing that you guys do. Thank you!
Brad Heath
Pipestone Quarry
Cause: Individual in need
Good Morning Mike,
I just wanted to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for the recent donation of $500 from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation’s Pay it Forward Employee Charitable Giving Program.
These funds will be put to good use to purchase infant/child restraints which are then installed by our certified technicians. There are many people who are unable to afford these very important safety items and this gift allows us to assist many people in keeping their children safe. While we do not have exact numbers, we know that the restraints which have been installed by our technicians over the years have saved many lives and reduced injures dramatically.
Montana Resources is a very integral part of our community and we look forward to many more years of mining in the Richest Hill on Earth. Montana Resources has always been a great community partner and we enjoy the private/public partnership which has been developed over the years.
Thanks again to you and your employees and do not hesitate to contact me if me or the Butte Fire Department can ever be of assistance to you or MR!
Jeffrey L. Miller
Director of Fire Services, Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department
Mike McGivern
Montana Resources
Cause: Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department infant/child restraint program
In 2014 I booked myself a trip to Thailand to fulfill my dream of volunteering at an Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. My boyfriend also joined me on this trip and had organized a couple of days to volunteer at an orphanage. I’ve always wanted to adopt from Thailand, so this was a great introduction.
While I was there we were introduced to the toddlers who were so eager to talk to us (even with the language barrier). I remember one boy hugged me and wasn’t letting go. It broke my heart. I wanted to volunteer with them, but than we were taken to the nursery. I’ve never been much of a baby person or been raised around them, so this was definitely a new experience for me. You go into this room that is pretty warm (a/c was only allowed during certain hours) and there lay all these babies on mats on the floor. Some were crawling around, some were crying and some were playing with little toys. There were 24 babies and 4 nannies. They needed as much help as they could get in the nursery so I understood why we were placed there. The nannies were very sweet to the babies; there just weren’t enough of them.
I was absolutely thrilled when I had found out I won the Pay It Forward charitable giving card. The orphanage I wanted to donate to was government funded, so I picked another orphanage.
Chelsea Maroney
Envirocon
Cause: Individual in Need
A co-worker of mine and his wife started a GoFundMe page for her uncle. Her uncle, Jerry T., lost his home and everything he owned in a housefire on New Year’s Eve. They informed me that the community in and around Thompson Falls, MT has donated some clothes and a few household items, but he still needs help. He is living in a donated structure but still needs to furnish it with electricity and running water. Camping out in February is tough! The electric company has quoted $4,000 to get electricity set up. More may be needed, but this is our starting point and any help we can get is GREATLY appreciated. Jerry is a phoenix who keeps rising from the ashes (as life throws him challenge after challenge). Let’s show him he is not alone and help him make a new home.
Will Maus
Washington Corporations
Cause: Individual in Need
I gave the card to an extraordinary lady who is undergoing extensive cancer treatment. She is still working and taking care of others as she always has. She lost her husband 2 years ago to the same diagnosis.
It is a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity to help someone who would never ask for something for herself. Thank you for the opportunity to Pay It Forward.
Jacquie Duhame
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in Need
First of all, Thank You to Mr. and Mrs. Washington for their endless generosity. Their giving has such a positive and beneficial impact on people’s lives.
I presented my Pay It Forward Card to Patrick and Emily Kirkley, Missoula residents who have anguished over the past year due to their daughter’s serious illness; cancer. Amaya, their 3 year old daughter was diagnosed with pediatric leukemia early in 2016. This diagnosis came out of nowhere but changed their lives instantly. Over the past 12 months they have struggled between trying to maintain their home in Missoula while needing to be in Spokane, WA for Amaya’s treatment and chemotherapy. In addition to the stress that comes with facing the loss of a young child to cancer, Patrick and Emily continued to be challenged with the financial strains that have come with their circumstances. I told them to use the card in any manner they desired. I did mention the origin of the PIF Card Program and the Washington Foundation’s charitable giving. The Kirkley family was moved to tears and will put the funds to good use. They asked that I convey their gratitude for the very generous gift.
R. Scott Trent
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in Need
I walked into the Humane Society of Western Montana and told them I would like to make a donation. The woman at the desk said, “Sure, that sounds great, how much?”
I said, “Well, I am an employee of Montana Rail Link and every year the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation selects a certain number of employees, gives them $500.00 to donate to the charity of their choice and I have chosen you.
She stood there for a moment and said, “Okay.” I handed her the card and she said, “How much would you like to donate?” I said, “The entire $500.00, use it how you see fit.”
Again, she stared at me and said, “I am a little choked up, I think I might start crying.” It was an amazing moment. She asked for my personal information then went into the back room, she came back out with the Executive Director, Marta Pierpoint. She was very gracious, thanked me and the Foundation for the support. She asked me why I chose them.
I told her that it is such a worthwhile program and that 16 years ago I adopted a retriever mix from there– his name was Kahlo, he was such a great find and ultimately I was doing it in his honor. He passed away last March and I couldn’t think of a better way to remember him.
What an amazing opportunity/moment this was, to be able to support a cause that is so near and dear to my heart. Thank you, Dennis and Phyllis for doing this.
Erin Cork
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Humane Society of Western Montana
I gave the card to Moland Lutheran Church. My congregation there is mostly elderly people. We had no wheelchair access ramp for the stairs so I instructed them to purchase a temporary metal bi-folding ramp for now. Also put the remaining balance toward a future constructed ramp access. Thank you so much! This can really make a difference in peoples lives.
Bryan Tolliver
Envirocon
Cause: Moland Lutheran Church
I chose to give the card to a single mom between jobs, she was really struggling and depressed. Once I got the card I went to her house as a surprise and she started crying she was so happy!! She was able to get caught up and is currently back to work with a big smile on her face!! Thank you so much Dennis and Phyllis Washington, this is a great and generous program and helps many people in need.
John Vuicich
Washington Corporations
Cause: Individual in Need
I donated my Pay It Forward card to Reach in Bozeman, Mont. Reach is a non-profit organization helping 118 adults with developmental disabilities in the Gallatin Valley. The money will be used to provide high quality residential, vocational and transportation services.
Riley Malott
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Reach Inc.
The individual I chose for this card is a mother who has been in Billings since Christmas and welcomed twin girls 10 weeks early.
Note from the recipient of the card:
A Pay It Forward card provided by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation just paid for all theses diapers and wipes for the two newest additions to our family. Being out of work since December had been difficult and we have had our ups and downs here at the hospital, but we will hopefully be released soon. Going home with twins is going to be a learning experience for us, but one thing we won’t have to worry about when we get home is buying diapers for awhile!!!! Thank you guys so much. It was such a blessing to have one less thing to worry about when going home.
Rose Crawford
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in Need
I chose to give my Pay It Forward card to a United Way agency, Neighbors In Need. Their mission is a fund of last resort, whether that be a tank of fuel. temporary lodging or food. No cash is given to those who apply for help, Neighbors in Need has a network of vendors they work with. I feel fortunate in my life and have a lot of compassion for those who do need a helping hand.
Douglas Clark
Modern Machinery
Cause: United Way
I gave my gift card to the Cottage Grove Faith Center youth group. The funds will be used in various outreach programs, including an event similar to the color blast fun runs. The youth group has some amazing leaders that invest much time and effort into the youth of our community. These kids are at a very impressionable age where many turn to illegal activities such as drugs and alcohol. The outreach programs used in the youth group reach kids that might otherwise end up going down a lifelong path of destruction. The events are fun and wholesome and keep kids accountable to adults that care. Even if their home life is broken or missing; the love and acceptance these kids so desperately desire can be found where they are making lifelong friends and memories. Also, each Wednesday the youth pastor buys pizza and brings them to the local high school where kids are invited to participate in free lunch and fellowship. This group has over-the-top good and wholesome fun and I totally wish I a teen again!
Amy Hewlett
Modern Machinery
Cause: Cottage Grove Faith Center
I used part of my card to purchase a dryer for a senior citizen and the rest of the card to pay her heating bill.
Carmel Ramirez
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in Need
A good local friend of mine suffered a house fire that destroyed all of her possessions including her house. Because of how the fire was started she did not get insurance to cover the majority of her losses. I gave her the card to help her rebuild her house and get some of her life back. She provided me with the following thank you letter which I will have pasted below:
Note from the recipient of the card:
To the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation for your Pay It Forward program. I had no idea that it even existed until one of your prepaid credit cards found its way into my hands.
I was 435 miles away from my home and my children, working in another state when I received a frightening phone call from my son. He was in extreme anguish and when I heard him, my heart sank. At first, my mind raced to the worse possible scenario, so the news that I got about the house burning down brought relief. At least my three children were safe! The fire happened just a couple of weeks before Christmas and we had lost everything. I try to keep my focus on my blessings so I won’t go into detail about the loss of the many things that we cherished. I would, however, like to thank you so much for your generosity. This money will go toward helping me and my family build back our lives! I pray God’s blessings on Jason, who placed it in my hands, and all of you that are part of an organization who makes it a regular practice to bring happiness in to tragic situations. You truly are a silver lining in a world of storms.
Sincerely and gratefully,
Terressa Evans
Jason Auker
Envirocon
Cause: Individual in Need
It was so hard for me to make this decision because of all the great charities in my local area. This year I chose our local food bank. Many years ago when I was a child I remember my mom having to rely on the food bank in order to provide for myself and my brothers. I have always tried to support some type of charity while growing up and giving back to the community in one way or another. Given this opportunity with the Pay It Forward program I was able to place the funds in the hands of some very compassionate people. Thank you Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank for all what you do in our community, and thank you Mr. & Mrs. Washington for your continued generosity towards others. I am truly blessed to be employed by such a great corporation.
Ron “Stretch” Payne
Modern Machinery
Cause: Food bank
Thank you Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for the Pay It Forward card. This year we bought food and necessities for an elderly woman who my wife knows that has had health issues recently and her only income is Social Security so we knew she could use it, even though she is to proud to say so. This is a great program and thank you again for allowing us to help someone in need!
William Osborne
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in Need
A good friend for many years was evicted and spent several months living in his car during the fall. He was able to find employment again and get an apartment, but had no furnishings. This card allowed him to take care of the basic housing necessities.
Brent Mueller
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in Need
I gave my giving card to The Special Operation Warrior Foundation. Our country so often now call upon a small and select group of individuals to go into harms way so we can live safely in this country. We owe a debt that can never be repaid, that can never be measured, we owe them our lives.
Thank you Dennis and Phyllis for allowing us to Pay it Forward.
John Peterson
Envirocon
Cause: Special Operation Warrior Foundation
Our niece, Emersyn Leigh, came into our lives on October 10, 2013. She was born a little fighter and continues to be absolutely full of personality. Emersyn spent the first 10 days of her life in the NICU in Missoula suffering from several issues to include respiratory problems. Three years later this little lady continues to be challenged with medical obstacles, yet her resilient nature shines bright! Most days you would never know she is sick, and for that we are grateful. As medical bills rise and the family heads to Billings this month for more consultation and testing, Rusty felt the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation “Pay It Forward” donation was most certainly warranted for the Short family. Emersyn has forever changed our lives from the very moment she was born. Her independence and determination leave a lasting impression and incredible sense of life with everyone she meets.
Russell LaTray
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in Need
I decided to donate the Pay It Forward card to the Missoula Animal Control. I asked for the money to be used for adoption fees or medical expenses for the hardest animals to place. A orange tabby Cat named Washburn, who had no teeth and loved to take showers caught my eye, but when I asked about sponsoring him, they told me he was already a lucky winner of a home. So I thought the next best thing was helping other older or medically challenged animals. Thanks for the opportunity to help some animals!
Chuck Marvin
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Missoula Animal Control
I had no idea after receiving this card how much it would be needed. Just prior to getting this card, my older brother was diagnosed with Stage 1 Lung Cancer. He lives with and is the caretaker of my aging mother. Just after I received the card, they upgraded him to Stage 4 as the disease had traveled. He was assigned 35 days of radiation treatments with a 60 dollar copay for each visit. He is medically disabled already and lives on a very small disability income of which he helps my mother with bills and household expenses.
For weeks I took money out of my personal bank account to help pay the copay for the visits. I had the card already but wasn’t certain about giving it to a family member at first. But along with copays he has to travel quite a ways daily for the treatments which costs a lot of gas money in an older vehicle like his. I finally gave him the card and told him to use it for gas for the treatments and any small bills that can be paid due to medical.
This was the right thing to do in my mind as he has taken care of my mother since my father passed 8 years ago. He has provided his own time and labor to remodel her house and has always taken care of the outside areas. He is a stand up person in my opinion and I was so glad to be able to contribute to his medical costs and this card certainly helped. He is still undergoing the treatments and we all hope and pray that he shows improvement in the near future.
David Hardy
Envirocon
Cause: Individual in Need
Meals on Wheels Program Makes Difference in the Life of a Senior
Patricia “Sam” Graham and her husband, Rod had been married nearly 40 years when they retired in the summer of 2009 from their jobs as secretary and custodian at a large Portland church. They downsized, moved to the suburbs and less than a year later, Rod passed away suddenly.
Depressed and lonely, Sam decided to visit the Juanita Pohl Center to find outside activities and friendship to fill her days. Disabled and unable to drive, she called upon Ride connection to get her to and from the center.
“I tried several activities but the turning point came when a group of diners invited me to join them for lunch in the Ambleside Meals on Wheels People dining room,” Sam said. “One thing led to another and soon I was coming every day and began to volunteer at the Meals on Wheels People registration desk as well as at the senior center.
“There is no question that the people at the Juanita Pohl Center were a lifeline for me and helped me through my depression,” Sam said. “Before I knew it, I was volunteering! I can’t do the whole job – I know I have limitations – but I do what I can and they welcome what skills I do have.”
Sam recently fell at home and broke a couple of ribs and is now receiving Meals on Wheels. “I’m seeing the program from an entirely different angle now,” she said with a laugh. “Some of the volunteers I saw at the center every day are now delivering my meals. It’s interesting to see the different personalities of the drivers. I can see how a little friendly visit can make a world of difference to a homebound senior.”
Sam is on the mend and hopes to return to the Juanita Pohl Center soon to resume her volunteer duties – and to have lunch with her friends.
Julie Piper Finley
Meals on Wheels People
Anonymous Employee
Modern Machinery
Cause: Meals on Wheels
A few days after I received the gift card a family of six in my neighborhood had a fire in the back half of their home that burned up their carport and their only viable form of transportation. Another family put them up while repairs to the home were done, but they still did not have a reliable way to get to work. The father worked nights so the bus was not an option for him. They had another car that needed repairs before it was drivable so I gave them the gift card to get their car running again. My husband and another neighbor helped with the repairs and life is back to normal again.
Lisa Boyum
Modern Machinery
Cause: Individual in Need
Kuna Youth Softball Baseball Association is a great program for young children. This program is designed to get kids out of the house and get them active and educate them thru sports. The money will go towards better and safer gear for softball and baseball programs from T-Ball to the 10-12 year olds. This money also will help with the scholarship program where they take children that cannot afford the registration fees. So many kids want to play in these sports programs but money is always the reason the cannot play. Thru donations like this it allows them the opportunity to be around their friends, stay active and learn to play at a competitive level to help them when they get older in school programs.
Thank you for this Donation and the KYSBA thanks you as well.
Kendall Velder
Modern Machinery
Cause: Kuna Youth Softball Baseball Association
On February 17, 2017 we lost a very incredible young man named Colt Campbell to a tragic logging accident here in the state of Oregon, he was just a few months shy of 30 years of age. I’ve met a lot of young men in my life but Colt made an impression on me the 1st time we were introduced by his father and mentor Dana Campbell. His maturity, sense of direction, and overall kindness was refreshing to say the least, over the years I never saw Colt with anything other than an incredible smile on his face as he was a son, father to Waylon, and husband to Jessica. I was concerned that if I donated the card to Jessica that with an expiration date so soon and here plate so full with day to day life without Colt it might be forgotten. I called Kara Cook at 1st Interstate Bank who had a brilliant idea! Kara had me destroy the card and she mailed me a check made out to Jessica with no expiration date, I enclosed it in a card and gave it to her at Colt’s celebration of life on February 26, 2017. Thank you to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for your incredible generosity in Jessica’s time of grief and to Kara Cook for her brilliant idea.
Mike Murphy
Modern Machinery
Cause: Individual in Need
I decided to give my Pay It Forward card to two friends that are having a hard time financially. One friend has recently found out she has a non-cancerous tumor in her brain and will need to have surgery. The other was to a junior hockey player that had to have surgery on a shoulder and is not covered under insurance and has growing expenses. They are both very thankful for the help we have given. Thank you for continuing this program and letting us help others in need.
Hal Bates
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in Need
Note from the recipient of the card:
In March of this year Butte School District received a Pay It Forward card with express wishes to help families with student hot lunch balances. Let us give you the history on this:
Earlier this year a group of employees from NCAT here in Butte donated money from their employee club. This money was designated to be used to help families who were struggling to pay their children’s hot lunch balances, but who were paying what they could on the accounts. Hence the Angel Fund was born. Our local newspaper ran an article about this gift for our families.
Shortly thereafter we were contacted by Tim Shea who works for Montana Resources at the mine here in Butte. He had received a $500 award from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Pay It Forward program and he and his wife Janet wished to donate his award card to the Angel Fund. We then contacted Kara Cook at First Interstate Bank with questions about how we would be able to use this card. When we explained what we were going to use it for, she immediately converted the card into a check for us to be able to deposit into our Angel Fund. Kara was excited about our objective and urged us to submit our story. So here it is:
We would like to share a couple of examples of how this money is being used:
We have a mom with two very young boys whose spouse died in December of this past year. She had 1 child in school who had a small hot lunch balance. We heard mom was having a very hard time, so that account was paid in full. We then sent her a letter to express our condolences, and explained that her account had been paid off, where the monies came from and that she had been a selected recipient of Angel Fund dollars. That account remains paid off to this day.
Another scenario is a mother with 3 children who all have a chronic lung disease. She too struggles, but pays as much as she can when she can. We applied some funds to help her out with her balances.
In another family the husband had lost his job earlier in the year; only mom was working. Mom came in to make a payment, explained their situation, applied for Free/Reduced meal benefits, but she was a way off from her account being paid off. Angel Fund Monies were applied to the account to help out. Since that time mom has been able to pay off the balance in full.
Tim Shea
Montana Resources
Cause: Butte School District Hot Lunch Program
I gave my Pay It Forward card to MTB Missoula. They are a non-profit organization that focuses on mountain bike trail access, trail maintenance, legal trail creation, and encouraging people of all ages to get out on a bicycle. This group is an asset to Missoula and the surrounding area.
John Dunning
Montana Rail Link
Cause: MTB Missoula
I gave the Pay It Forward card to a stage 4 cancer patient who has been struggling with day to day expenses, including fuel to get to treatments and appointments. The gift card was very much appreciated especially when the bills keep adding up and not much income coming in. Tracey asked for me to relay a very teary-eyed joyful thank you to everyone who made this possible. I would summit a picture but due to the chemo she asked that I not take a picture.
Thank you,
Don Darnall
Montana Rail Link
Cause: MTB Missoula
The donation will be used by Bridger Care, a reproductive health clinic of great value to the Gallatin Valley community, in the construction of their new Bozeman clinic. The donation was also matched by an anonymous donor.
Cole Warnick
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Bridger Care
I donated my card to my church. They used it to help a veteran but a suit for a job interview for which he got the job. He then paid back the money and said to help someone else out. So my pastor then helped a mother and her children with food and clothes and paid some bills for her. Thank you for the card it helped a lot of people.
Scott Henman
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individuals in need
I donated the gift card I was given to Messiah Lutheran Church in Missoula, whose copier had recently failed. The timing of the gift could not have been better and our church truly appreciates the generosity of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation.
Thank You.
Paul T Richter
Envirocon
Cause: Messiah Lutheran Church
The card I received was given to a deserving college student at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Her father passed away while a junior in high school and she chose to be the first in her family to attend college. Her ambition is to be a radiology tech. She works full time, pulls 12-15 credits and manages to keep her grades up. The engine in her 17 year old pickup broke down and she graciously accepted the $500 gift to help repair it.
This was very much appreciated by her as she sent a heartfelt “Thank You” for recieving this gift.
It has done what its intention was in helping someone in need.
Joel Doupe
Modern Machinery
Cause: Individual in need
As an animal lover, I really appreciate organizations like the Humane Society that have so much to offer to our community. Between their no-kill shelter, low-income veterinary services, food bank, and training courses, they’ve been able to help so many people with their pets. It takes a strong team of people to pull all of this off, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out how the giving card was ultimately used. I received the following email from the Humane Society’s Director:
Note from the recipient of the card:
Hi McKenna
The Humane Society of Western Montana recently received a Pay it Forward gift card from an employee of the Washington Companies, McKenna Wynne. We are thrilled to receive this gift and wanted you to know how we have decided to use it. Often times when people think of HSWM, they think about the pets and how they can help them. They don’t always consider the people who make the pets lives better each day. Here at HSWM our employees work hard to give pets the care and enrichment they deserve while they are waiting to go home. The days are long and can be challenging, particularly when the pets have special needs and or sad histories.
To address the stress that our employees feel HSWM recently initiated compassion fatigue and employee recognition programs. Each month we offer a unique opportunity (called COFE breaks) to animal care givers, some address compassion fatigue directly, such as a class in resiliency from Red Willow, other COFE breaks are simple opportunities to gather outside work, such as a movie night. Our employee recognition program gives staff the chance to vote for their fellow employee who has been particularly helpful and dedicated. Each employee who is recognized receives a $50 gift card to a local business.
We have decided to pay your gift forward to our own employees by using the funds to buy gift cards for the remaining months. One will be awarded each month to the outstanding animal care giver. Employee recognition is a popular and simple way to recognize the investment our staff makes toward the pets in our care. We cannot thank you enough for thinking of HSWM.
Marta R. Pierpoint
Executive Director
Humane Society of Western Montana
McKenna Wynne
Envirocon
Cause: Humane Society of Western Montana
Dear Mr. Halligan,On behalf of the Valley Christian School Faculty, we would like to extend our thanks to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, as well your employee Edward Nurse, for the recent donation of $500. As a private school, we are often faced with the financial challenges of being able to provide extracurricular experiences for our students. Because of your generous donation, a number of our teachers will be able to provide educational field trips for their students this spring.Thank you for the work you do in our community, and for supporting our mission at Valley Christian School.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Nurse
Elementary Principal
Valley Christian School
Edward Nurse
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Valley Christian School
This year I worked with Rock Harbor church and donated the card to them so they could reach out to a family in need.
Kory Bladt
Modern Machinery
Cause: Individual in need
It had been several years since I’ve put my name in for the gift card to give away. This year when the memo came out I knew right away I was going to put my name in. If I was lucky enough to have my name drawn, I knew exactly who I was going to donate it to.The young lady that cuts my hair has two young children and had just recently bought a house with her husband. I can’t tell the story about what happened, but let’s just say the man she married was not who he pretended to be. She is left with two children in a house she can’t afford and will be moving back in with her parents as soon as she can sell the house.
My name was selected for the gift card and I bought a card to write a note. I wrote a brief note explaining the gift card and how to use it, with one stipulation. I knew money would be tight for her and her kids so I wanted her to take her kids out to eat somewhere they normally wouldn’t go, just to enjoy a nice meal and time together. The rest was to use at her discretion. They went to Olive Garden and had a nice meal, the kids were so excited. Her daughter got some new summer clothes and her son too. He was more excited about a toy he could get.
What I didn’t expect was the note I received in the mail, it reads as follows.
“Jamey, I am at a loss of words. I have never had anything so kind done for me like you have done. I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for my kids and I. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. I am forever grateful to you. You are a very strong and caring thoughtful man! I have taken in every amount of encouraging words from you as I have looked up to you to the highest while you were going through such horrible times in your life! Thanks from the bottom of my heart.”
My life has not turned out as I ever imagined. My brother committed suicide in 2010 and as many of you knew my wife Jamie, she passed away from brain cancer in 2015, leaving me alone to raise our two kids. But you never know who is watching you live out your life. How we act and what we say are powerful examples to someone else that may need to draw on it in their life someday.
Thank you to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for a great program that allows us to give a gift that can help someone in need. But it also blesses the giver as well, knowing we can have a dramatic impact in someone’s life.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Jamey Van Doren
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in need
My Pay It Forward story is the result of a need identified when a close family member was unexpectedly hospitalized and had no time to prepare.
Unfortunately, he was in the hospital for several days before he was able to notify family. His cell phone battery had died and he wasn’t able to access phone numbers to contact us. After several days, a nurse kindly lent her charger to him. It became apparent that these days people don’t have phone numbers memorized and rely on their cell phones.
As a result of this event we began searching for the cheapest options for providing cell phone chargers to several surrounding area hospitals. I discovered we could purchase in bulk, chargers for both iPhone and Android cell phones at a cost of about $3.00 per charger. As of today Livingston Healthcare and tomorrow St. Patrick Hospital will be equipped with 20 chargers, 10 each of iPhone and Android. Our next shipment is scheduled to arrive at my home on April 25th and patients will have them available in Bozeman, Butte and Billings hospitals in the very near future.
Here is my 4 year old daughter Abbigail as she counts and bags the cords and wall chargers just before we made our first delivery to Livingston Healthcare.
Thank You for providing us this great opportunity to share and to teach our children to Pay It Forward.
Gary Boone
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individuals in need
I donated the Pay It Forward card to Belgrade Public Schools. With the donation they were able to purchase 5 “Ollie” robots to add to their collection of programmable robots for use throughout the school. The robots have allowed the school to begin introducing coding to the students as young as kindergarten. Thank you for the opportunity to Pay It Forward.
Jeff Meyer
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Belgrade Public Schools
I would like to thank Dennis & Phyllis Washington for the opportunity to “Pay it Forward”, your generosity is an inspiration and greatly appreciated.
Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel was my non-profit choice. The gardens were built by William A. Clark as a gift to the city and miners of the area. The carousel is a small reminder of our past and the many memories that the gardens provided to the community.
Jackie Blom
Montana Resources
Cause: Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel
My wife Lynda and her cousin Carol both have MS. I ride for them and all people with MS. I used my card in its entirety as a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. In particular as a rider donation in the Silver Valley Bike MS Ride which takes place September 16 & 17, 2017 at the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho. We ride from Kellogg to Plummer and back, about a 110 mile ride on day one, then on day two from Kellogg to Mullan and back which is around 40 miles.
The following was taken from my Bike MS personal page:
“Bike MS is more than a ride. It’s a way to make a difference. Mile by mile and dollar by dollar, Bike MS is changing lives. That’s why I’m proud to be participating in this year’s event.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness and more. MS is different for everyone, and that makes it all the more challenging to solve.
Believe it or not, pedaling a bike could be the answer to a world free of MS. Every dollar raised through Bike MS provides much needed funding.”
Dave Hahn
Montana Rail Link
Cause: National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
I chose to Pay It Forward to the Superior High School senior class to help fund their senior trip. It paid for lodging and helped with meals. The donation was greatly appreciated.
Dustin Hayes
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Superior High School
I gave the card to Christikon, a youth church camp on the Boulder Road. They were going to use the donation to do repairs to the cabins’ heating systems.
Anthony Maida
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Christikon
Thank you very much for the gift card for $500.
Our organization was able to use it to secure a medium big green egg and accessories to use in a raffle at our event, Thrive Jive. The big green egg allowed us to earn an additional $3000 that will allow us to pay for direct therapy services for survivors of sexual assault.
Thrive Jive was a charity event hosted on April 22, 2017 and all proceeds from the event go to support Day League in providing free therapy services to 16 survivors of sexual assault in 2017 and supporting the financial education program to benefit our clients.
Day League provides direct services, prevention education, and advocacy for youth and adult survivors of sexual assault, their families, and the community as a whole. Day League ensures survivors of sexual violence forge a new beginning, not only to survive their ordeal, but also to become strengthened by it. Funds raised at this event will support our mission to combat the devastating effects of rape and sexual assault by empowering survivors and educating the community.
In addition to the previously listed services, our organization runs a twenty-four hour crisis hotline that has been in operation since 1989. As one of 22 crisis centers in Georgia, we receive 1/3 of the calls. We service Metro-Atlanta and the surrounding areas, taking calls from Fulton, DeKalb, Henry, Cobb, Rockdale and a number of other counties.
It was wonderful that you supported Day League and our survivors by sponsoring Thrive Jive. Each one of our sponsorships is important to the success of our fundraiser and us reaching our goal.
Only with the support and generosity of individuals and businesses in our community can we continue to provide such valuable services to survivors of sexual assault. Let us know if we may provide you with more details on Thrive Jive 2017 or Day League and please visit our website at www.dayleague.org.
Andrew Simmons
Envirocon
Cause: Day League
I gave my Pay It Forward card this year to Mary Ann Porcervina, she is the pharmacist at CVS Pharmacy here in Butte, and her husband Dave also works for Montana Resources. I wanted to reach our and help as many people as I could. Mary Ann wrote out a thank you card that I will forward to the Foundation, but, in it she explains about the people she decided to help. One was a young couple that just had their first baby, and had some complications, so part went to help them with antibiotics and breathing medication, another was diabetic medication for a child, and several elderly customers that were struggling to make the co-pay being on fixed incomes. She told me that everyone that was helped were extremely grateful to Dennis and Phyllis and the Foundation.
Joe Allick
Montana Resources
Cause: Individuals in need
I gave $200 of the card to my cousin who was doing a bike ride for MS and the remaining $300 to my 13-year old friend who was raising money to go on a church mission to Liberia to help doing something good over there … not sure if it was building a school or digging a well or what but she’s a good kid and went and had a life changing experience.
I spent it a hundred times in my head. It’s so fun, like winning the lottery and being a $500aire!!!!!!!!!
Penny Kauth
Washington Corporations
Cause: Bike for MS, church mission
Thank you for proving me with the $500 Pay It Forward gift card to distribute to someone in need. I was looking at several local organizations to donate the gift card when my wife’s long-time co-worker Zada Sanborn fell while descending a staircase causing her to break her hip and putting her out of work for several weeks. Upon returning to work another personal medical situation became apparent and she is now on long-term medical leave and struggling to pay her mortgage and medical bills. We offered Zada the gift card to provide some relief from financial concerns. I would like to pass on the message she left me for how very grateful and thankful she is to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to have received the gift card.
Thank you once again for selecting me for the Pay It Forward card and being able to help someone who was in need.
Patrick Davidson
Envirocon
Cause: Individual in need
I donated my giving card to a local non-profit called Sustainability in Prisons Project. It is an amazing organization that works with 12 prisons across Washington state to bring science and nature into the prisons and work with offender technicians on local restoration projects. I have helped with their work first hand and they have an incredible impact on the offenders that work in the programs. Their goal is to provide education and job skills in a science-focused curriculum that will hopefully inspire the offenders to make a future for themselves upon release.
I appreciate so much being given this opportunity to give to an organization. They were floored and also send their thanks – this donation will help provide essential supplies for the conservation nursery project and education curriculum.
Brianna Morningred
Modern Machinery
Cause: Sustainability in Prisons Project
I gave my card to the Missoula International School. It was so very much appreciated. It was going to be used to purchase school supplies for the kids that are on assistance & scholarship level. MIS is a private non-profit school that offers unique and challenging 21st century educational opportunities for students in the greater Missoula area. They provide an inquiry-based learning environment as the flagship Primary Years Program International Baccalaureate World School in the Northwest and a full Spanish language immersion education.
Adrian Vatoussis
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Missoula International School
Meals on Wheels is a vital link for many seniors in our community to stay safe and healthy. Thank you to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for giving me this opportunity.
Susan Twiford
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Meals on Wheels
I donated the Pay It Forward gift card to the Missoula Youth Rugby Association. I played rugby in college and was fortunate enough to get to know a few folks involved with the Missoula association. They provide an opportunity for kids from 8 – 18 to participate in the sport and compete in various tournaments throughout the state and country. The association also hosts several tournaments throughout the year. The card will help to alleviate some of the costs associated with participation and may provide an opportunity for a child, who otherwise could not afford to participate, to compete.
Joe Gentri
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Missoula Youth Rugby Association
I chose to give my card to the Missoula SnackPacks program that helps fight hunger at the high school level. My daughter gave me the idea. In researching this program I learned that Montana has the highest suicide rate in the US and Missoula County has the highest rate in Montana! It might be a stretch that this program can help fight suicide but I can’t imagine the added pressure that hunger might add to an individual that might be depressed, feel left out, or that already has suicidal thoughts. By providing meals in an anonymous way at least these kids can go to sleep at night with a full stomach. The program is working towards non-profit status and right now they don’t have an office. They have very low overhead so most of their donations goes right towards food purchases.
Bill Crandall
Modern Machinery
Cause: Missoula SnackPacks
I chose to give my card to the Charlo Summer Youth Baseball program for equipment updates and whatever else they may need.
Steven Smith
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Charlo Summer Youth Baseball
We would like to thank the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Pay It Forward program for the donation of $500 of one’s choice. We chose Meals On Wheels for the aging. The stress of living on a elderly fixed income with the stress of medical, medication and everyday living expenses. We know that they will have a few warm nutritional meals.
Bill and Jerilyn Morris
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Meals on Wheels
I donated my Pay It Forward card to Cold Springs School in Missoula. Technology plays an increasingly important role in education, but due to budget limitations many classrooms are struggling to keep pace. This donation is being used to purchase new Chromebooks, an independent math activity center, and other technology needs for second and third graders at Cold Springs.
Gordon Terpe
Washington Corporations
Cause: Cold Springs School
I gave my giving card to Ms. Lydia Meadows, an art teacher at Merriwether Middle School in Edgefield, South Carolina. Ms. Meadows works in a school district that routinely struggles to provide discretionary to its art and music teachers, and the giving card allowed her to purchase supplies for more robust lessons. The following is a statement from Ms. Meadows:
“With experiences I had by traveling to Alaska, Montana, and Italy, I came up with fun and challenging art projects that will test their knowledge but also enhance their confidence. My classes all learned skills that will propel them with not only the rest of their educational lives, but their lives after. We learned from the earliest of arts (the cave paintings in Lascaux, France) to the modern artists (Jackson Pollock).
With a range of skills and techniques we learned, I bought material that would best be suited for the project. I bought a mini pottery wheel for the after school art club could experiment. I bought a new set of clay tools, clay, paints, project paper, printmaking inks and barrens, and pastels. Projects we worked on were: building totem poles and learning about the Pacific Northwestern and Alaskan Native Tribes; building wire gates and learning about the South Carolina blacksmith of Philip Simmons; creating watercolor techniques of Georgia O’Keeffe; and nightmares in a form of a print similar to Giovanni Piranesi. Students’ enthusiasm for learning techniques helped create an atmosphere for embracing mistakes.
Students at Merriwether Middle School have to experience new art techniques that tested their creativity. Being a first year teacher, teaching in a middle school, I have learned a lot about myself as well as the creativity of the students. This was the first year in a while where ten of my eighth graders were accepted into the talented and gifted program for the high school. Each student from the creativity challenged to the gifted all showed signs of improvement with their confidence. As a teacher, I am proud to see such an improvement.”
Anthony Aluise
Envirocon
Cause: Merriwether Middle School in Edgefield, South Carolina
Well, it was 3 years ago when little Bre was born. Her mother, Krista, has not had any support from the father. To tell you how bad it really was, I picked Krista up from the hospital the day they found out she was expecting because her boyfriend had left her there. For three years I watched her struggle and try to make ends meet on her own, and last year it hit me that this gift would help her out tremendously in her fight for child support from the father. About 16 months has passed when I first found out about this program and I told myself I would try my best to help Krista out, and we did. Without her knowing, we paid $500 of her legal bill and her lawyer will now represent her again thanks to your help and generous donation. I’m hoping over the years to be able to fully adopt little Breezy and have her call me daddy. Until that day happens, I wish the best for her and Krista who will always remain close to our heart.
Here is a quote from Krista to my wife: “I don’t know how much he paid nor do I care; anything is grateful and very much appreciated. I will forever be in his and his company’s debt!”
At this point in time, she still owes $6,500 in legal fees. Each year I will try and donate to her through your generous donations!
Douglas Cassman
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in need
Note from the recipient of the card:First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Mark Parsons who came personally to the Meals on Wheels center in Tualatin to bring us the $500 donation card.I was so happy and honored to receive the donation because I had been planning to replace my 4-year old ice cooler that we use to deliver meals to our seniors. With the $500 I was able to replace three of the ice coolers, now the meals will stay cold while delivering during the hot summer, I also replaced my 3-year old fry pan, we got 40 new water cups, thermometers, oven mittens, soup spoons, a new broom and office supplies.
Your donation also help us make a Volunteer Appreciation luncheon where we thank all our volunteers who help Meals on Wheels achieve its vision where no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation.
All of these items that we were able to buy will make a difference on how we serve our senior community. Thank you to all of you who work hard to donate $500 to Meals on Wheels People, your donation made a difference in our seniors’ lives.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Julio Lopez
Center Manager
Juanita Phol Center (Tualatin)
Mark Parsons
Modern Machinery
Cause: Meals on Wheels
My card was gifted to a family in need of help with medical bills, medical equipment, and other necessities. Beckham was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease when he was only a few months old. This requires him to have an oxygen tube for breathing all of the time, as well as limits the places he can go due to germs and sickness. Due to that, his mother was unable to return to the job she loved after maternity leave, as he cannot attend a daycare and his father had to change jobs and pick up an evening job as well to ensure they could still provide health insurance and all of the things Beckham needs. The family wrote a letter after being given the card, which they have used to pay a few of Beckham’s medical bills down.
“There really aren’t words to describe how we felt upon finding out you chose our family to receive the Pay It Forward giving card. We are in awe. Adjusting to all the changes these past few months have been difficult, but your generous gift relieves so much stress and makes a big difference in our lives. This is going to help us so much with Beckham’s medical bill and supplies for his continued oxygen support. We believe God places people in our lives when we need them the most and what you have done confirms that. Randy, what an amazing company you work for, making such a difference in people’s lives and spreading love and kindness. We feel beyond blessed and cannot wait for the day that we as well can pay it forward to another family in need. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Randy Francis
Modern Machinery
Cause: Individuals in need
Elizabeth Archer (known as “Miss Elizabeth” to all that know her) has been a part of Crooked Creek Baptist Church (CCBC) longer than anyone in the church can remember. She graduated from Tennessee Temple College in 1954 and initially served as a missionary in Trinidad serving various people groups for a number of years. When she left the mission field she returned to her hometown, Arcade in Jackson County, Georgia, where she spent many years holding Bible Clubs in area schools. People all over Jackson County have been touched by her influence and countless young people have been brought to Christ through her ministry.
In 1971 a new organization was started out of CCBC with the goal of reaching a new generation in Jackson County with the Gospel. Miss Elizabeth was a founding member of Neighborhood Gospel Missions (NGM) and has served as a NGM missionary from its inception. Whether at the office, at the camp, or in teaching Bible lessons to area children, many have been evangelized and discipled. Though now in retirement, she still serves at CCBC and NGM in more ways than could be counted. Her legacy continues with Good News Club Teams still proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the public schools through after school programs in Jackson County, GA.
Miss Elizabeth has never married and still lives a full and independent life in her modest home in Arcade, Georgia. She recently fell and broke her hip, but after a few months of rehabilitation she is once again back home and back to church where she greets everyone with a kind word. In the last several months she has had numerous medical bills. In addition, her water well recently quit working and a major repair was required.
The generous contribution from the Washington Foundation was greatly appreciated by Miss Elizabeth.
Bruce Culbertson
Envirocon
Cause: Individual in need
Envirocon has been working in the Ashland, WI, community for four years now, with this year and next to go. The community has been very supportive of our efforts to remediate the former MGP site. My staff and I have met some nice folks involved with Relay for Life, and given the high incidence of cancer (non-project related) in this small community of 8,000 or so, I thought it fitting to give back, in support of their efforts to raise funds for cancer research.
Bradley WB Hay
Envirocon
Cause: Relay for Life
I donated to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Association. They are a non-profit organization that works very hard to keep the public land we have as public land. As an avid hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, and conservationist I want my kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy God’s country in the same pristine condition that I have enjoyed it. I use the wilderness as a place to recharge my batteries and find peace. I am thankful that there are organizations out there that will fight to keep those places accessible so that everyone can enjoy the truly magical places that are out there.
Darren Dean
Modern Machinery
Cause: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Association
This was used to purchase a computer for Living Hope Church to use for Children’s Ministries. It will help enable a secure check in & check out system for kids and to coordinate lessons and activities for them. It will also help to coordinate the adults who will volunteer to work with them.
Thank you!
Mike Ungaretti
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Living Hope Church
I gave my Pay It Forward card to a single mother of two young children. She works a full time job, pays for child care, groceries, and everything that goes along with raising kids on her own. She struggles but somehow makes it work every month. This donation will help her through a few months a little more stress free.
From the recipient.
“This donation helped me more than words can explain. I am forever thankful to Garrett and the Washington Foundation for the help. Thank you for your support.”
Garrett Rasmussen
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in need
This year I have donated my Pay It Forward gift card to the Park City Volunteer Fire Department. The money was used to purchase tools and equipment that the fire department uses on a regular basis. Some items include wildland fire fighting gear, wildland packs, headlights, and many other items. I am very thankful for the gracious donation and I hope I can be fortunate in future years to pay it forward once again.
Ben Southworth
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Park City Volunteer Fire Department
We were excited when we received the Giving Card from the Washington Companies – thank you!
When we moved to the Denver area about 12 years ago with our newly born twins, Jenny and Ryan, we became members of the Denver Zoo and would visit nearly every month. Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to talk to the animal keepers and learn how the Zoo is always trying to improve the animal’s environment and find new ways to help them. As the kids became older, and as they started donating a portion of their allowance and personal earnings each year, we’ve gotten more involved with the Zoo’s conservation programs and the animals. For this donation, the zoo staff said what they really needed were “toys” that would stimulate the animals and keep them interested in their surroundings. An example that we’ve seen in the past were polar bears playing with giant blocks of ice with fish frozen inside. The money helped this program and the Zoo was very appreciative. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share with a cause that is important to our family.
Jon Vail
Envirocon
Cause: Denver Zoo
I gave this year’s card to a 74 year old individual who survived polio as a child, but the disease stole the use of one arm and leg. With the help of his older brother and years of practice he was able to utilize his natural talent and love for music, and learned to play stringed instruments. He continued with his music and became lead guitar player in a band for his life’s career. He lost his wife and life partner last year, so he now lives alone. Last winter he slipped from his van and hung from the running board, upside down. Since he can’t afford a cell phone to call for help he had to wait until a Good Samaritan happened by and helped him out. I purchased a Tracfone for him with 5 years of service and minutes so he will be able to call for help if another emergency occurs. He still plays in a band occasionally, this year he will be playing in Bannock Days July 15-16 if you happen to be there he will be easy to spot.
Paul Lasater
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Individual in need
I chose the Boys Scouts of Montana for the Pay It Forward to help pay for upgrades to the campsites, purchase program supplies for youth activities, provide scholarships to boys in need, provide for volunteer training, and much more. I’ve been involved with Boy Scouts for over 18 years and it is so rewarding to watch them develop from young boys to our future leaders.
Lynda Hahn
Montana Rail Link
Cause: Boys Scouts of Montana
I chose to give the card to a guy named Bill Denend who is a single father. Bill works for the state of Montana Corrections and had to have a major surgery. Being out of work and with mounting hospital bills, he was in a pinch. Bill is also a veteran from United States Armed Forces and I was honored to help out. Thanks again for Pay It Forward, it is a wonderful program.
Jeremy Reynolds
Montana Resources
Cause: Individual in need
I chose to give the funds from my card to the family of a local 7 year old boy named Matthew Ferguson. Matthew has undergone six brain surgeries over the last several years to alleviate severe intracranial pressure and pain. The medical terminology for his condition is called aqueductal stenosis, which is an affliction where the cerebral spinal fluid doesn’t drain properly. I learned about Matthew’s condition through a Go Fund Me page set up to help defray some of the extensive medical and travel costs incurred by his family. I have two sons myself and was touched deeply when I read his story and how he and his family have fought so bravely to give him a normal childhood. I hope that this donation helps them do that in some small way.
I want to thank the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for giving me an opportunity to help someone in need. This is an outstanding program and the money donated by the Foundation through the Washington Company employees is truly making a difference in people’s lives.
Jed Sandau
Envirocon
Cause: Individual in need
I chose to give my card to a single father of three children, ages 11,13 and 16. I know they don’t have much but they always have their father’s love, so I thought this could help them. When I gave him his card and told him what it was for he told me maybe I should find somebody more deserving. I told him your selflessness is the reason I’m giving you this; I know you work 60 hours a week just to keep a roof over your head. He broke down and thanked me. I must say this was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been able to do for somebody. I never expected to get so much joy form this experience. Thank you for the opportunity.
James Bull
Modern Machinery
Cause: Individual in need
I decided to donate to the Butte Emergency Food Bank Backpack Program. The backpack program is a collaborative effort between the food bank and the school district. The school district identifies children in need, the food bank makes up packages with enough food for the child to have a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks for two days, then the teachers discretely distribute these packages to the children at the end of the week. This is done in an effort not only to help the hungry but “with these meals, students are more attentive in class, retain more information, and have better moods to welcome classroom activities and homework.”
Thank You Dennis and Phyllis Washington for allowing me to Pay It Forward and make a difference in my community!
Rob Sanderson
Montana Resources
Cause: Butte Emergency Food Bank Backpack Program
My Pay It Forward Giving Card was donated to help pay for new flooring of vinyl strips and carpet in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Park City, Montana; my and my family’s church. The old flooring was dried and brittle tiles that were curling up around the edges and had numerous chips off the corners. It was so old that no one could remember when it was installed. With the new flooring installed, we have quickly forgot how bad the old floor was.
The new flooring really upgraded the appearance and feel of our worship space. Now that we have the new flooring, some of our members wonder what took us so long to get it done! Our worship services, funerals, weddings, and many other church activities will benefit from our flooring looking so much better.
It feels really good to have been able to contribute to keeping God’s house a place into which people feel good coming in. It may seem that flooring isn’t such a big deal, especially when most of it is covered by the pews, but you would have to have been here before with the old flooring and now with the new flooring to fully realize just how much of a difference there is. We are very thankful to have been able to contribute our Pay It Forward Giving Card to something that made such a big and important difference to many people, and will for many, many years, even decades to come!
Jason Frank
Montana Rail Link
Cause: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Park City, Mont.
Little communities often struggle to put on events for the kids. This year I donated the giving card to the Whitehall Easter Egg Hunt. The money helped fill thousands (yes, thousands) of eggs with candy and little toys. There are a few hundred kids that come out to this little community Easter Egg Hunt and it is great to see their smiling faces as they crack open their eggs.
Jill Dove
Montana Resources
Cause: Whitehall Easter Egg Hunt
I donated my Washington Foundation Pay It Forward Card to Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, based just outside of Saegertown, Pennsylvania. This organization treats injured wildlife animals in hopes to return them into the wild. These animals mostly include a large variety of birds, but also turtles, snakes, possums, and more. I decided to donate to this organization because of their huge educational programs. Tamarack visits Boy and Girl Scout camps, public libraries, nursing homes, conferences, and public schools frequently to educate both young and adult audiences on the importance of animal health and safety and their critical role in our environment. I have a close friend who volunteers at Tamarack and has shared numerous photos of animal recoveries and stories like excited children seeing a bald eagle for the first time. I am proud to help such an amazing local organization such as Tamarack. Thank you Dennis and Phyllis Washington for your generosity!
Roxanne Beall
Envirocon
Cause: Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center