Pay it Forward Stories 2022

i split the giving card into 2 separate gift cards and gave one to Billings Real Soccer Club to assist with costs for any family that may need it, the other card was given to Poly Drive Elementary for school/class supplies.

This year, we seen a family I need outside of the real food grocery store and I asked them if the need and food or clothes? They said they could use some winter clothing. So I asked the man and lady what size and went into capital sports and purchased a winter coat and bibs for them as well as some other clothing.

Hello,

I appreciate the opportunity to pay it forward to a non-profit that helps veterans in need.

The Wounded Warrior Project is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic and is honored to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support veterans on their journey to fitness and rehabilitation through sports. Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition, (The Wounded Warrior Program).

I have witnessed this first hand, I have attached some photos.

Thank you Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation,

John R. Cooper

My giving card was provided to a single mother to help offset medical expenses for her daughter in Kindergarten, Maylee, who became ill and was previously already compromised.
Maylee’s mother is employed at my daughters pediatricians office and misses work due to her daughter struggling with medical concerns. This year in February, Maylee caught parainfluenza, COVID, and RSV. Maylee was already compromised and was flighted to Denver to recover and the school and community supported Maylee providing a dollar day for Maylee. We provided a card indicating we hope Maylee and her family could use this to help offset medical or any necessities they may need.

As the school year is coming towards the end many class rooms are running out of supplies and snacks. You always hear teachers using their own funds to buy supplies for their classroom. So I asked the principal at one of our local grade schools to send a email to all of the teachers and ask them what they would like for snacks for their classrooms. After getting a list my wife and I went to Sam's Club and bought snacks with the Pay It Forward card. Thank you for giving Washington Corporation employees the opportunity to make a difference in their communities.

A friend of the family had just proposed to his fiancé while down on a trip to AZ. And after talking with him about all the details, a few days later he had broken a tooth in half. And having started a new career his health benefits were not yet in place. They had hosted us and treated us like we were apart of their everyday normal routine. I felt moved to use this card in helping him pay for his dental bills. Because i can only imagine the stress it had caused him after spending quite a pretty penny out of his savings on a wonderful engagement ring. I also like to thank the foundation. This is such an amazing feeling to be able to help others.

This year I gave my Pay it Foreward gift to my Nephew and his wife for Medical Expenses for they’re youngest Child. He has been suffering with seizures off and on for a couple of years. The child was doing better late last year but the beginning of this year he started having problems again. With multiple Doctor visits out of state they were struggling With finances.

I had thought long and hard about where to give my card. I have decided to give my card to a gentleman that I have meet that works at a local restaurant. We have visited many times about his life and struggles he has incurred recently. He is older gentleman that is working two jobs to make ends meet and that is having some medical issues. He is needing a hip surgery, but doesn't have enough money or time off to get it done. So I wanted to give him my card to help lesson his burden a little. He was very appreciative of the gift that he received.

I provided my giving card to the head coach at YMCA Missoula Swim Team who will be using it for a team-building activity with the coaching team. This group of incredible individuals devotes countless hours of their time working with hundreds if not thousands of youth in the Missoula area each year. We're so lucky to have them serving this important community service!

This year I used the Pay It Forward Gift Card to help a family on our softball team with medical expenses. The mother of this family of 4 has had to undergo multiple medical procedures and continues to fight with gastrointestinal problems daily. The father has had ongoing kidney problems. Both parents work full time but needed a helping hand. They are kind, generous, and positive people. I am glad that Washington Companies has given us the opportunity to lift their spirits with this donation.

I gave my card to the Lincoln Sportsman's Club. They are building a new shooting range near my town and its been years in the making. It will be nice to have a place for target shooting since Lincoln has never had a dedicated range since I've lived there for the past 25 years. Many families in the area will enjoy recreational shooting sports at the facility as soon as this summer. I look forward to it. Thank You

After seeing and hearing stories on the news and from people I know, like Steve Doty, who personally know Ukrainian people in need because of the Russian war in Ukraine, I decided to give the $500 Pay-It-Forward gift card plus $500 of my own money to DirectConnect Humanitarian Aid so that Ukrainian people in desperate need can get help they greatly need. I contacted Steve Doty, the founder of DirectConnect, a pastor and retired logistics professional who works with people he personally knows and has contact with. Steve has devoted his life to helping those in need in the most efficient and direct way possible – on the ground. He works with volunteers from both the United States and other countries to deliver help where it’s needed most.

Message from Steve Doty:
Here is some text and photos that I received from my contact in Ukraine. Her is Anya, and even though she and her family are basically running and hiding themselves, she is still trying to help others back in her home city of Kremenchuk. The first paragraph is from her. The other paragraphs is her explaining what she has been able to do so far with the support to help others with food, basic supplies including medicine. Some people are hiding out in orphanages, some are trying to sew warm hoods for soldiers. One group of 7 women and children (photo 3448) we helped get to Poland where they would be safe.

Message from Anya in Ukraine:
Dear Steve, thank you for all the prayers. We really need them and really appreciate them! We decided to stay together as a family, we can't imagine leaving Egor alone... Yes, we are still in Western Ukraine, so relatively far... And relatively safe, if I can even use this word... All these atrocities are killing me... I am really on the edge. And yes, Steve, in places where there is no war action banks are working fine. I got a wire to my bank account the other day from my host family. I can't draw it all, but can use it when paying with a card or drawing about 100$ worth at a time from an ATM. And I can wire money further to other people, too. thank you for everything you do. Please, pray for us, I am barely holding... I watch the news and cry all the time. What did we do to them? Why is God not answering so many prayers, desperate cries for help and mercy... I am praying all the time. The nights are long and sleepless. I can hear my brother talking in his dream and startled from time to time, shaking/shivering... It's heart breaking. I can't sleep... Please, ask everyone in church to pray for Egor, Larisa and Alex and for all Ukrainians as we are suffering more than we could have imagined.

I have also sent support for Sveta (140$), she is an orphanage graduate who now is a volunteer in Kremenchuk. She collects items and delivers them to refugees or baby orphanage. She used the money I sent to do shopping. Still has some left to but more items. This went to refugees and the baby orphanage. Snezhana tried to go to the border with her husband and her 4 kids. Unfortunately, failed to cross, as her husband wasn't let out and she decided she wouldn't cope on her own and returned. He had to have a special certificate from the government that he is the father of 4, kids' birth certificates with his name were not enough... It's a pity. They are back home now. Still very scared as they constantly see planes and rockets flying around and sirens, too. I sent them 1500 for the trip and same sum yesterday as they had no food already. Total 3000, a bit over 100$.
I send her a bit over 200$ for the fabric and food, socks, etc I have also wired 100$ to Gradizhsk today and will do the same tomorrow. The orphanage now had almost 100 people with kids who really need cleaning /hygiene items and food. But mostly the first. The deputy director with drive to Kremenchuk with her husband to do the shopping as their village is low on supply. Photos will come later I also bought 100$ of medicine for the local volunteer center where they send items to Kharkov, Kyiv, and other very dangerous areas. It's blood-stopping meds and pain-relievers and disinfection for wounds. Very very needed stuff that can truly save life. And here are the photos from a teacher of handcrafts from TB. Her name is Alexandra. She is very much involved in sewing special hats for the army, especially local guys who stand on block posts and try to protect people and also the ones fighting in different areas. Also she got food and socks for people in need, too!
These are the females of the family with kids who actually managed to leave to Poland! They are very very grateful
As for Inna, she says many many thanks to you for all the help that you have provided! She is very grateful! It's great help!
This is her family. All family with her kids (young adults now) and their spouses. And grandkids.

A friend of our family battling cancer and the family is in need of help. I'm very grateful The Washington Foundation provides this program to help those in need.

In my hometown there are people that struggle to put there kids in sports especial in hockey because the kids out grow their gear every season. I donated the giving card to the Salmon hockey association, they provide gear for all the kids under 12 years old. They will be using the money to buy helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards and skates for the kids that are under the age of 12. They rely on donations to be able to provide gear to the kids and keep them safe. Without donations there probable wouldn't be a hockey league for the kids. They were very grateful for the donation.

I chose to purchase items for children, games, toys, crafts, books, etc. and gave those items to the non-profit 8 & 40. The primary mission of this wonderful group of ladies is to provide aide to children dealing with lung issues. Many of the items I purchased will be taken to National Jewish Hospital in Denver to be given to children in their respiratory care. The items help the children (of various ages) to feel less lost and alone. Another mission of the 8 & 40 is to help veterans in any way they can. Part of the items will be given to the Fort Harrison VA Hospital Christmas Gift Shop. This is a shop where veterans can get items for their families at no cost to them. Many times the veterans have been in the hospital long term and are unable to go shopping outside the hospital. I have seen the joy on the faces of many of these men and women as they choose something for a loved one. It is a real privilege to be a part of the joy and comfort for children and adults alike. Thank you to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for this opportunity.

This year I chose to pay it forward to a single mother of 5. This family has had a rough couple of years. In 2020 her abusive husband made a horrible decision and her and the children are now protected from him. Just a few months after that 2 of her children were in a near fatal collision. The two and their mother had to spend almost 3 months in Seattle in intensive care. The children are doing incredible now but there is some permanent scarring and some post traumatic stress. This mother is strong and raises her children the best she can. She always has a positive attitude and teaches the children to look at the brighter side of life. She works hard doing construction and any odd jobs to support her family. This lady rarely asks for help and I feel blessed to be able to help her a little with groceries and gas money to get back and forth to doctors appointments. Thank you for the opportunity to be able to "pay it forward" to a family in need.

We donated the $500 c.c. to a local Awana Club at the Frenchtown Community Church. They have been providing a wonderful ministry to our community by providing after school care each week for Frenchtown kids, K-5. Our two daughters have grown to love this program and it has strengthened their love for God and the church. This program reaches out to children from all demographics in our small community. Our girls have developed lots of long lasting friendships within the program. The program leaders are a wonderful group of volunteers. They give each child free snacks, crafts, and prizes for kids learning their weekly Bible verses. This pay it forward grant is a small way to say thank you for all their hard work and to offset their costs throughout the year.

My cousins son was killed in a motorcycle accident on January 30th 2022. I choose to donate my card to the family to help pay for funeral cost, time missed from work or any other bills that might have came up in this difficult time for them. Thank you to the Dennis and Phyllis foundation to ease some of the stressful and hard time for this family

I chose to give my card to Emerson Elementary. Emerson is the largest low-income elementary in Butte. The card will be used for spare coats, shoes, and any other spare clothing to help kids in need. Thank you Dennis and Phyllis Washington for allowing me to help those less fortunate in my community.

My pay it forward card went to a young lady that my wife teaches. Though a senior in high school and just turning 18 she has supported herself and has been determined to graduate high school and go to college. She has suffered through all types of abuse at the hands of her father and step father. It’s sad that her teacher is the one person she trusts and leans on when life gets her down. So being able to give her something to help her get things she needs to head to college was a pleasure.

I gave the card to a young single mother, the daughter of a woman on my bowling league. She is going to college in Dillon for early childhood education, she works every evening at McDonalds, and has an 18 month old boy. She's been enduring the normal struggles of being a single mom working to improve her life, and doing pretty good at it. But she's also going to lose her apartment in a few months, so this card will help her save up for another place, help with diapers, and give her a bit of a cushion so she can keep working hard on school.

I chose to give my pay it forward gift card to a family I grew up with in Anaconda. Due to an illness in the family, they have fallen on hard times; Medical bills, travel expenses associated with healthcare at specialized hospitals and the lack of an income.

I purchased gas cards for an employee of a locale security company. I have not personally met this person, but from what I have heard they are very hard working, kind and take pride in their work. Everyone raves about them. The reason I chose gas cards is they can’t afford to rent a home in Missoula with the current housing problem we have. The only home the could find is in St.Regis. We all know how much fuel costs are now . They are having a very hard time affording to drive to Missoula and back every day to come to work. I thought a little help in the fuel purchasing would give them some room to breathe.

KRVM has a unique history as the non-commercial, public radio station of Eugene School District 4J. The first words ever spoken on FM radio in the Pacific Northwest were spoken on KRVM — the date was December 6, 1947. They receive no funding from the school district.

KRVM is dedicated to community service. KRVM serves the communities of Eugene, Springfield and the outlying areas in many ways. The station plays a variety of music, airs public service messages for local non-profit organizations, offers a student broadcast program for middle and high school students,

KRVM offers students a Radio Broadcast Program. The program is open to students from any area school who are eager to learn
students learn how to operate an audio board, microphones, and audio software. They also learn proper on-air communication skills, including announcement of songs and musical artists, and delivery of public service announcements.

I have my card to Discover Anaconda, they are doing a campaign to increase awareness for motorcycles on the roadways. They will be displaying two different life sized cutouts to remind people in Anaconda.