Pay it Forward Stories 2019

I gave my card to Doug Fink. Doug has been with Modern since 2005 and was diagnosed with cancer last fall. He has been undergoing treatment in Billings and Denver. This donation from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation will be used to offset some of the expenses Doug and his family have incurred while battling this disease. Thank you!

I chose Partnership for Children. A Missoula based company working with families to build healthy relationships.
A lot of children with family trauma issues. A lot of children taken from their home due to drug and abuse issues.
They have two therapy homes in Missoula. Rosemary Gallagher Children's Home and Missoula Sunrise Children's Home.
They've help an enormous amount of children work thru a difficult time of their lives.

In 2017, a family in Seeley was given the worst news a parent can get. On June 30, 2017, their three year old little girl, Addy, was diagnosed with DIPG, a rare inoperable brain tumor. She was given 9-12 months to live. Our community supported this family and watched them go through this terrible ordeal. Addy passed away in November 2018. The family has asked that we all help increase the awareness of this terrible disease, and that if we want to make a contribution, to contribute to Seattle Children's Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund. 100% of the donations go directly to research being done at Children's Hospital. Addy's family donated cells from her tumor to the hospital prior to any treatment, and they have been able to learn so much from these cells. This family has been through a lot, and being able to donate to this research campaign and to raise awareness of this disease means a lot to me. A am grateful for the Foundation and Washington Companies for allowing us the opportunity to Pay it Forward.

I have given my "Pay-it-Forward" card to Doug Fink, Billings Parts Counter Salesman. Doug was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer in October of 2018 and so far has gone through 4 rounds of chemo and recently was in Denver for surgery to remove the tumor from his liver. He will soon start 4 more rounds of chemo and then will return to Denver to have surgery to remove the tumor from his colon. He will then have to go through 4 more rounds of chemo.
This donation will be used to help cover some of the medical and travel expenses Doug and his family have incurred fighting this disease.

I DONATED MY GIFT CARD TO HELP FOR HOMELESS PETS IN BILLINGS. MY WIFE & I ALSO MATCHED THE AMOUNT OF THE CARD TO HELP TAKE CARE OF ALL THE CRITTERS THAT ANGIE COOK AND HER STAFF WATCH OVER. ANGIE PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR THESE PETS AND FINDS THEM GOOD HOMES TO GO TO.

We decided to give the money to a family with a sweet little girl battling leukemia. The family is from Missoula, but is doing all the treatment in Kalispell. We are all praying a speedy recovery for this brave young lady.

I will be donating my card to a 33 year old mother of 2 that is fighting a battle with cancer. I thank the Foundation for there generosity. Family's having to go through these battles are hard enough let alone having to struggle with finances at the same time. One day at a time. Thanks Much

I gifted the money to the Seattle Union Gospel Missions. They delegated the money to go towards maintenance on their "love vans" These vans go out 7 nights a week throughout the Seattle are. They give out food, clothing and hygiene products to people in need. As well as offering immediate pick up of Men/Women & Children that want or need of the streets.

I gave the card to a young family who's son has had medical issues and then they just found out that the mother has breast cancer. I told them the card could be used for any medical bills, groceries, fuel, housing and even to take the family out for a much needed distraction. They were very thankful and I'm thankful for being able to help them out and to be apart of a company that helps as the Washington Companies does. 🙂

I gave the gift card to a single family whos had alot of struggles over last few months with medical problems and a single income when i gave the card to them and explained what it was and where it came from she burst into tears and thanked me it made me feel very satisfied that i work for a great company who can do this for a family in need Thank you

Thank you Dpwfoundation for this pay it forward card this year I have decided to help 2 families that have been down on there luck .My wife has taken the time to get grocerie list from them and we have purchased food to make there lifes a little better thank you again they truly appreciate it.

I couldn’t think of a better recipient than Erin and Misty Peterson. Jordan, their daughter, recently required a back surgery that would need to be performed in Salt Lake City. While the surgery was a success, further tests showed her liver was not functioning as it should. It was recommended that she either be placed on dialysis or receive a liver transplant. The family returned to Laurel with some heavy decisions to weigh. They plan to return to Salt Lake in March for a return visit for tests and possibly dialysis. The Pay it Forward card can hopefully ease the financial burden they are about to encounter. Thank you for the opportunity help those in need through the Pay it Forward Program.

I chose to contribute my giving card to Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation. This organization takes Post-9/11 combat veterans who are dedicated to making a positive change in their life and provides therapeutic programs and experiences all based on the sport of fly fishing at the Quiet Waters Ranch near Bozeman, MT. Different programs provide fishing instruction, meals, therapy, goal planning, and general guidance to combat veterans and their spouses that have been affected with a mental or physical disability resulting from their time spent overseas. Their Mission: "Through the experience of fly-fishing in Montana, WQW is a catalyst for positive changes in the lives of post-9/11 combat veterans."
As an avid fly-fishermen, I understand both the healing nature of the sport and the ability it has to focus and reset the mind, especially in times of chaos. Having military family members return from several tours overseas, I understand the responsibility we all have to ensure every member is taken care of when they get home and given the tools required to lead a full and rewarding life going forward. Using fly-fishing as a tool to help heal the mind and body, establish future goals, and provide a means of relaxation and comfort is a tremendous gift they are providing to very deserving people.
Since 2007, WQW has provided over 705 Fishing Experiences to combat veterans and spouses/caregivers from across the nation.

Council On Aging
The purpose of the Council on Aging is to advise the Board of Commissioners on all needs and interests of senior citizens over the age of 60 residing in Custer County. The goal is to help our senior citizens stay healthy and happy and able to live in their own homes as long as they want to. We manage several programs ourselves, and have information on many others that may be helpful to seniors.

Services we provide directly include Home Delivered Meals (also known as Meals on Wheels); Congregate Meals, Senior Commodities, Transportation Assistance, Health Promotion programs, and home visits by Skilled Nurses, Personal Care Assistants, and Homemakers.

The High Altitude Skating oval has become a true source of winter recreation in Butte. Numerous families, young kids, teenagers and out-of-town folks are using it. The rink has a great feel being abutted against the East ridge. The overall ambience has been greatly enhanced by installment of a sound system but we needed some additional speakers to complete the run around the oval . This $500 was used for that.

I would first, like to thank Dennis and Phyllis Washington and the Foundation. It is quite an honor to work for a company that share so much of their time and money on so many charitable causes that many people never hear about. This program is one of them. This year I am giving my card to a couple that are friends with my son. Here is my story.
My son moved to Wyoming some time ago with the promise of a job once he got there. After getting to Wyoming, he soon found out that the job would not be available until after the first of the year. Now he is stuck in a town, with very little money, no job and no place to live. He has worked there in the past, so he did know a couple people there. The couple I am talking about, took him into their home and treated him like family. They were already having a hard time, because the father has had 2 heart attacks in the past 6 months and has a wife and 3 small children he is already worrying about, since he is unable to go back to work, himself. It didn't stop them from taking in my son, so he could have a place to stay, food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in at nights. Because of the kindness of these people, my son now has a good job at a mine there, and I would like to "Pay it Forward" to these people that did the same for my son. Thank you again for being the caring people you are, that makes it easier to be the kind of people, we all need to be. Again, Thank you.

I gave the card to a single mother who has had some troubles with medical bills and so on a few years ago her youngest daughter went through a fight with cancer and a son who is battling diabetes she has had some issues with medical problems as well and still manages to take care of her kids but this is going to her to help out with food bills and clothes and ext. for her and her family .

I gave my card to the Clinton community center to buy targets for the youth archery program that I'm helping them start.

This year I donated my "Pay it Forward" gift card to Mended Little Hearts of Montana during their 5th annual Valentines Day Heart Bash fundraiser. Mended Little Hearts of Montana celebrates, and supports, little ones who are coping with the challenges of congenital heart disease.

In November of 2018, my 6 year old son Triston was diagnosed with pre-excitation with an accessory pathway in his heart. A birth defect we were unaware that he had. This can cause his heart to go into arrhythmia. Luckily, he hasn’t had any symptoms, and with further testing, he doesn’t need any intervention done at this time.

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects in the United States. This has made our family more aware of how many little ones Mended Little Hearts supports in our community, many whom we know personally.

Thank you Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for this program and your generosity!

I gave my giving card to my girlfriend for school expenses. My girlfriend drives back and forth from Butte, MT to Dillon, MT 3 days a week. This giving card will help with gas and book expenses.

I gave my Pay it Forward card to a friend who was just recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in early February. His family has two young boys and both parents work to support the family. I used this card to help them with medical costs and normal routine household while he is going through chemo. Ben has helped out the Montana community by installing skateboard parts in rural areas of Montana to help kids stay out of trouble. He is such a vibrant personality to be around, and I am thankful that I was able to help him and his family during this difficult time! Thank you!

We are giving the pay it foward card to Eyer family, their daughter Teslyn has been diagnosed with AML( Acute Myeloid Leukemia). We all know cancer comes at a great cost not just including medical expenses but the Eyer family has had to temporarily relocate from Missoula to Kalispell for Teslyn’s treatment which can last anywhere from 4-6 months.

JR Vezain a MT rodeo Bareback rider was paralyzed Sept. 2018. New baby due May 2019.

Brand new grandkid it will help out with food and diapers clothes and other baby needs

I donated $150 to an organization here in Spokane called Love 11. After losing their son in an accident Memorial Day weekend 2016, Micah Love's parents started the Love 11 organization because of their son's love for year-round sports. They award grants and scholarship commitments to youth sports organizations, schools and local programs in our community. They offer a chance for low-income and underprivileged kids, schools and neighborhoods to play sports regardless of social, cultural, or economic background.
I donated $350 to American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest, which is near and dear to my heart. My niece, Marleigh, was diagnosed with AML leukemia in 2012 and after 14 months, after just turning 5 years old, passed away. ACCOIN provided support from diagnosis and still do today. For families who are given the childhood cancer diagnosis, their lives are instantly changed and are sent into a whirlwind of hospital stays, tests, procedures, medications, etc. The families often go from a 2 income household to 1 (or 1 to 0) and finances take a hit. ACCOIN helps the families by giving them a new patient stay bag at diagnosis, including basic toiletries, toys and activities for the kids, gas and grocery cards. They offer emergency financial assistance for household bills, support with finances during holidays, they also host family support nights, day camp, support lunches, etc. They also provide emotional support for survivors, siblings, and bereaved parents. I could never repay ACCOIN for how they have helped my family and I am happy to donate to them! (pictured: my niece Marleigh Elise)