Pay It Forward Stories 2024

I decided to give the pay it forward gift card to the Butte Emergency Food Center. They provide food to the needy around Butte and have some very good programs that they sponsor.

My card went to help my good friend, Sherine Blackford, and the foundation she created called Loving Loic Foundation, in hopes of finding a cure for her son, Loic, who was diagnosed with PKAN, a rare genetic condition that affects 1-3 in 1,000,000 children. It can present in two ways, classic and atypical. Classic PKAN, what Loic has, is characterized by early-childhood onset of progressive dystonia, parkinsonism, and brain iron accumulation with children bound to a wheelchair and placed on a feeding tube at the end of life. It is terminal and children with classic PKAN typically do not survive past age 10. There currently is no cure for PKAN and treatment is palliative care. Loic's family has partnered up with a team of genetic scientists at UMass Chan Medical School to support the development of an effective gene therapy treatment for PKAN through the Loving Loic Foundation.
Loic is currently 3 years old and is one of the happiest little boys. Praying they find a cure for him!

The Pay It Forward card was given to Langley First Baptist Church (LFBC) to be used for the 2024 Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Program. OCC is one of several humanitarian efforts sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. The OCC program collects shoe boxes from the community filled with hygiene items, school supplies, toys, and clothing. The contents are determined by gender and age. The boxes are collected during the National Collection week (the week before Thanksgiving) and sent to one of the distribution facilities. Volunteers in these facilities check each box and remove any possible contraband. The boxes are then sorted to be shipped to selected countries all over the world. For many of the recipients, this will be the first Christmas gift ever received. The shoe box gifts benefit the child as well as the entire family. OCC also ensures that the message of Jesus Christ is included with each box and even provides additional opportunities to minister to the family. The money provided to LFBC was used to purchase toys and hygiene items to fill the shoe boxes for the 2024 campaign. Last year LFBC completed 2,926 shoe boxes.

My brother is the head coach for the Ronan wrestling team - one of the individuals on his team was involved in an accident that resulted in the amputation of his foot. Following the surgery, he was determined to continue wrestling. He continues to demonstrate strong will and perseverance by staying positive and doing the things he enjoyed before the accident. I gave my Pay It Forward card to this individual as he was needing a new prosthetic, so the funds will be used to help with the medical expenses and travel costs.

Thank you to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for supporting this incredible program and providing the ability for us to give back to the communities that we live in.

Thanks to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington foundation pay-it-forward card, I was able to donate this year's funds to a non-profit, 100% donation based fitness facility in Polson MT. We all know how important staying active is for our mental and physical health. Two years ago, a colleague moved to Polson to open a "free" gym where those that couldn't afford to attend fitness classes could go without shame or fear. She has dedicated innumerable hours to this cause, in return only for donations. All her classes and instructors are not paid for their service. Was proud to help support her effort and she was beyond words thankful for this donation!

I used the card to help an individual who recently had unexpected medical bills, which put a hardship on their family. It’s nice that the pay it forward program is here and really helps those in the community who are less fortunate. It’s an honor to be a part of such a wonderful thing!
Thank you!!

I donated the card to a family friend who is battling throat cancer. He was going through surgeries and treatment and is now back home with a long road to recovery.
Thank you so much for this program.

A member of my family recently had their car stolen. While the car was eventually recovered, severe damage and the loss of personal items not covered under insurance was a major financial impact. I gave the card to him to help offset the losses and get back on his feet.

Butte -Silver Bow Public Health Department in collaboration with the Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department, hold child passenger safety car seat clinics that are conducted on a monthly basis. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff at the Health and Fire departments assess car seats, checking for correct installation, and whether the seat is proper for the child’s weight and age. Technicians also check for recall information, expiration dates and more. Car seats are also provided at no cost for those in need. The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Pay It Forward Card I donated will help purchase an additional 10 car seats. This will ensure that many more children will be safer because of this donation.

Thank you for helping support the Butte-Silver Bow Car Seat Program.
Pete

Heroes 4 Kids is a non-profit organization in Missoula, MT that provides financial assistance to Western Montana kids ages 8-18 for sports-related expenses (equipment, shoes, registration fees, camp fees and tutoring fees). Their vision is to allow every child the opportunity to participate in youth sports regardless of their family's socioeconomic status. Participation in sports promotes teamwork, positive mental attitude, dedication and the foundation to make healthy and productive life choices. It can also open doors to earning a college scholarship for continued education that may otherwise not be an option. They also provide tutoring services so students can maintain eligibility while participating.

This year I gave my Giving Card to Taylor and Mila who recently moved here to Missoula. With the cost of getting an apartment and needing first month's rent and a deposit, things were going to be very tight. I knew that this would help them with food and supplies. She was very grateful for the card. I can't thank the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation enough for all the support they give to our community. This is such a wonderful program!

My giving card was given to a small non profit group called Old Dog Haven which is a no-kill ( Final Refuge ) for abandoned senior dogs that have many heath issues and need special care for the short time they have left to live. ODH takes care of any surgeries, medications, etc. that are needed. So my giving card will go towards paying veterinary bills incurred.

I was very happy to have the opportunity to give a $500 gift card to Missoula Aquatic Club (MAC) to support swimmers who are part of the club via scholarship. My children have been a part of MAC for several years and have developed a life skill in swimming, appreciation for fitness, and the joy of being part of a fantastic team. MAC gives lower income families the opportunity to be part of the club via scholarship and this gift card will go a long way in helping those scholarship swimmers.

Noel, a friend of a friend, was raising money to try to get to Florida to visit her father that was recently put on hospice. She is a single mom who is raising her youngest son who has chronic health issues, and her grandson. Due to her son having special needs, she works as a door dasher and will be out income the entire time she's gone.
The money will help her get to see her dad before he dies, and help with some bills for missing that income.

My card went to a single mother with a young child. She told me that she would be using it for school clothes for the upcoming fall, a few everyday items, to pay off a small debt & to fill her gas tank.

I gave my pay it forward card to help my parents with excessive doctor bills after my dad had surgery on his spinal cord. I felt they needed it most to help out a little with the expenses. Thank you.

I am a military Combat Veteran and had recently joined a group with similar experiences. Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is a group of veterans helping veterans. With spring coming we have an abundance of veterans that reach out for help and we found a need to help them manage the landscape around their residence. We created a group within we call youth of CVMA and were able to buy a lawn mower to not only help maintain landscaping, but provide a camaraderie between the youth and veterans. A trailer was donated and we donate time to the youth and veterans alike.

I donated to our local Red Cross. Last year our community was ravaged by two devastating fires. The Grey Fire in the city of Medical Lake and the Oregon Road fire in the Elk and Deer Park area. The Grey Fire burned 10,085 acres and destroyed 240 structures. The Oregon Road fire burned 10,817 acres and destroyed 380 structures. Luckily none of our employees lost their homes in these fires, but many of their neighbors did. Our local Red Cross helped devastated families find immediate shelter, food, and other amenities.

I gave the giving card to the Special Services Director at Hellgate Elementary. I have first hand experience with the counselors and therapists in that department. It's such a high-need, yet underfunded program and I know they will put the money to good use to help kids who need their services. They have a long list of wants and needs and can't wait to go shopping! Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference!

My wife and I chose to give the $500 debit card to our friend, Jennifer Campbell. Jennifer gave birth to a baby 12 years ago who had the rarest of heart conditions. After many ups and downs, when Hannah was 4 months old, she received a heart transplant. Hannah received numerous blood transfusions the first 4 months of her life. To give back, Jennifer and her husband Jon organized a blood drive on Hannah's birthday every year for about 9 years. The Campbells are difference makers in their community. Jennifer works with the PTA at the elementary school her daughters attend. She's the team mom for the Everett High School Football team which means she feeds them every week before their game. She and Jon volunteered at church. I know there are other instances where they were difference makers as well. When Hannah was 7, she decided to forgo birthday gifts and instead asked those donating blood to bring a book or toy for the kids at Seattle Children's Hospital. They would go into the common playroom at the hospital. Her parents' care for their community rubbed off on her. In August of 2021, the Campbell family was on vacation in Leavenworth, WA. They were playing in the river on inner tubes when Jon had a massive heart attack and died almost instantly. Jennifer and her four children witnessed this tragic event.. Jennifer was left to raise 4 children on her own. Just a few months later, Jen suffered a back injury that landed her in the hospital. Not long after that the entire family got Covid. It was especially scary because Hannah has a compromised immune system. Thankfully, they all came out of it OK. Earlier this year, Hannah was hospitalized with pneumonia. They thought they were in the clear and then the virus turned to a bacterial form and settled in her knee. They were afraid Hannah was septic. It turned out they caught it in time and she was able to heal. Then she got pneumonia again. At some point, I have to ask, why them? They've dealt with blow after blow. While Hannah was home healing from her knee issue and pneumonia for the second time, Jennifer discovered her freezer had gone out. Somehow, a breaker popped and no one knew until it was too late. They lost a lot of food. When we heard that, we decided the $500 should go to Jennifer to help with whatever she needs. It could be to replace the frozen food, pay hospital bills, or a myriad of other things. My wife and I went to see Jennifer and the kids and visited for hours before we pulled out the gift card and explained what Dennis and Phyllis do every year. There were tears. The Campbells are so incredibly grateful and we are as well. It feels good to Pay It Forward. Thank you for the opportunity.

I donated my card to a newly opened senior living co-operative community. The funds will be used to develop the community garden area. They didn't have an adequate watering system for their garden area and flower boxes. With the funds, they were able to purchase everything necessary to install a drip irrigation system. Now the residents will be able to get a garden and some flowers established.

April 4, 2024
Dick,
Students across the District have many needs and do not have shoes that fit well or are not
appropriate for PE classes. This not only negatively impacts their ability to participate in
physical activities but it also creates additional social/emotional stress for these students.
In the past teachers have purchased many shoes for students. Cindy McCarthy, a long-time
educator in the Butte School District, along with others were the force behind starting this
program in 2015. Since then through many kind donations we have been able to not only buy
shoes, but also boots and socks for many students in the Butte School District. Your donation
will go towards purchasing shoes for those students to be able to participate in the grade school
track meet coming up this month.
Thank you for your very kind Pay It Forward Employee Charitable donation, your generosity
will make an immediate impact in the lives of students! Superintendent
Butte School District # 1

I donated the giving card to my local church and asked them to use the funds for the greatest need in our community. They chose to use the card to help the Butte Rescue Mission provide temporary housing for disadvantaged people in Butte. I'd like to thank the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for helping the people of Butte, especially during the Easter season.

I gave my Pay It Forward gift card to a young family from the Potomac. The dad was injured in a car accident approximately 2 years ago. Since that time, he has undergone several surgeries, has had extensive physical therapy, and will need more surgery in the future. The driver who was at fault for the accident was underinsured and the family has incurred massive medical bills. Recently the dad was able to return to work in a different position with fewer physical demands – only to find out that the company he has been employed by for years - will be closing their doors in May, 2024.

Thank you to the Foundation for giving me the opportunity to pay it forward to a family in need.

I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to pay it forward, and contribute my funds as a donation to "Millers Match", which will be contributed to the Stem Cell Transplant Unit at Childrens Hospital of New Orleans (CHNOLA) in memory of Miller Gamberi.

Joshua "Miller" Gamberi, Jr. was the child of local friends who lost their son, just a few days before his second birthday. In his short time on Earth, he overcame respiratory distress, intubation, PJP pneumonia, two bone marrow transplants, VOD, and COVID. Although Miller spent most of his life in the hospital, he had such a love for life. Even on his worst days, he still found a reason to smile. For the Gamberi family, CHNOLA became a "home away from home", and they shared some of their best times and some of their toughest times at that hospital. Unfortunately, Miller lost in his most recent battle against lung GVHD on March 18, 2024. The hope is that money collected through "Millers Match" will carry on his legacy within that unit at CHNOLA, as they are the reason the Gamberi's got extra time with their baby boy. The fundraising goal for the donation was $30,000, and at the time of this stories submission it had raised $32,174 in donations.