February 15, 2002
Pay It Forward Foundation Announces Winner of
First Pay It Forward Foundation Award for Schools

A sixth grade class at Golden Elementary School in Placentia, California, is the winner of the first Pay It Forward Foundation Award for Schools.

Mary Beth Tang, the mother of one of the 35 students in the class, nominated the students in Lisa Burgess's class for raising approximately $1,500 in one day for the family of a handicapped student whose house had burned down.

When the class heard from their teacher that the Bamber family had lost their home as well as the family pets in an electrical fire, and that they had no homeowner's insurance, the class brainstormed the idea of donating $1 to $5 each to help.

Instead, on the following day, one student came to class with his mother, who wrote a check from the student’s savings account for all the money he had saved – $250. He said he was waiting to find something special to spend the money on, and this was it. After that, the effort snowballed; another student cleaned out his account of $166 dollars, another brought in $50, some brought in $5, some sought out donations from other classes.

In addition to cash donations, the students brought in gift certificates for retail stores that hadn't been used. They went to local merchants, speaking with store managers to arrange donations to the family, including free meal certificates from local restaurants.

“As the mother of one of the students in Lisa Burgess’s class, I cannot convey in words how grateful I am to have a woman of such love and integrity teaching my child such valuable lessons,” said Tang. “My son was beaming with pride, and I was moved to tears.”

Six Schools Receive “Honorable Mention”

Mountain Lakes High School, Shasta Lakes, California
Students at Mountain Lakes, a continuation high school, offer tutoring through a mentoring program to grade school students, prepare food and gift baskets for those in need at Christmas, participate in blood drives for the Red Cross and perform various community services for the elderly in the City of Shasta Lake. They learn by giving to others and in turn it is hoped that society will learn that these students “pay it forward” every day for the second chance they get by just being able to give these gifts of their time.

Jefferson Elementary School, West Caldwell, New Jersey
Under the leadership of principal Ray Hyman, students not only participate in academics, but are reminded how to treat others with respect, to appreciate diversity, and to pass kindness on to others in need. The school gym lists 1,000 acts of kindness. Bird feeders have been hand-made for trees, flowers have bee planted in the school garden, cards have been created and placed on cars in parking lots with messages of kindness. Students raised $4,000 for four surviving victims of the Seton Hall University fire in January 2000 in which three college freshmen were killed.

Hall's Cross Elementary School, Aberdeen, Maryland
Most of the 21 students in Jacquelyn McDonald’s fourth grade class read below grade level. Last year they combined reading practice with community service by purchasing 21 Dr. Seuss books and blank tapes. The students read out loud, recording the books onto the tapes, and then donated the recorded stories and books to underprivileged children.

Uintah Elementary School, Salt Lake City, Utah
Once a month, Barbara McKeown's third grade class visits "Our House," a day care center for disadvantaged children, where they host a party for those who had birthdays during the month. The party is complete with cakes, balloons, presents and games. The third grade teams take turns making the cakes and planning the games. They love helping to bring some happiness to these little children and are learning great lessons about serving others.

Holicong Middle School, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Last year Tricia Pfeil's eighth grade students did jobs in the community to raise money for a holiday fund. They used their own time to do jobs, and then gave the money they earned to families in need over the holidays.

Maple Crest Middle School, Kokomo, Indiana
In six years 97 student council members have raised and distributed $30,000 to agencies in need. Each year, they coordinate a project for the Kokomo Rescue Mission that involves the entire city including the mayor, fire and police departments, the school system, churches, and businesses. Additional projects include Wheelchair Wash and Senior Citizen Prom, Cancer Society Relay for Life, United Way Day of Caring, Salvation Army Bellringers & Christmas Distribution, Ronald McDonald Pop Tabs, Bona Vista Penny Harvest, Pennies for Patients Leukemia Society, Riley Hospital, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Haiti Walk-a-Thon, Camp Awareness for Special Needs Children, American Diabetes, Mental Health Association, Teens Against Domestic Violence, and much more.