Pay it Forward Stories 2024

I gave my card to an individual who had to cancel her gym membership because she couldn't afford it right now. Her gym is a positive community that helps keep her mentally and physically healthy, and I wanted to give her a chance to continue. This expense is often seen as a luxury that has to go if food needs to get on the table or rent needs to be paid, but it's so important for overall well-being!

A friend of mine just got married, and then within a couple days was let go from his job due to his company shutting down the department in which he worked. Due to how the company filed that department closing, getting unemployment has been a fight he has been dealing with for over a month now while still looking for work. This has now left him in a spot of being unable to afford the rent for the coming month. Because of the opportunity provided to me, I decided to give my card to him so that he could keep his feet under him for at least another month. This has allowed him to keep his family taken care of and secure.

Our friend, Donna Anderson, has cancer and is a single parent. She is unable to walk due to the cancer and so has a scooter to get around at this time. Donna is going to use the funds from the gift card to purchase a new cushion for the scooter. Thank you so much Dennis and Phyllis for this most amazing gift that allows those of us to reach out and help another person and or family in our community. God bless you both.

Many thanks to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, and their sincere generosity. Recently I learned of an incident which happened to a coworker's family member. With the hardship and ongoing travel, lodging, hospital and medical bills, I felt it was best to give my card to this family.

The card was given to the Silver Lining Foundation which is a breast cancer survivor dragon boat paddling team. My wife was diagnosed back in 2017 and after undergoing treatment she was left with a condition called Lymphedema in her arm and it causes extreme swelling that a lot of doctors don't have a positive treatment for. Silver Lining supports the physical and mental wellbeing of women that have undergone cancer treatment.
This foundation has found that activity and the paddling motion reduces the swelling in the affected limb and in my wife's case cured most of her lymphedema. Silver Lining Foundation also supports the social wellbeing of many women affected by many different cancers. The foundation used these funds to further support the training program by purchasing some new and much needed work out equipment for their training gym.
Thank you for selecting me as a pay it forward recipient.

I gave mine to the Melrose volunteer fire department, to help with the cost of gear or to be used for their upcoming softball tournament fundraiser.

Gave the card to Shele Melick to help with expenses to fight cancer.

Butte Silver Bow Fire Dept. runs a car seat program for low income mothers who struggle to purchase a car seat. They must go through a training program to receive a car seat and receive instructions on proper use. I have donated to this program in the past and they have been recognized as having the most active car seat program of all the Fire Departments in the State of MT.

The father of a family we go to church with lost his job early last year. He went back to work in October, but lost it again last month. He is very talented in his field but his company faced reduction cuts. Just after he lost his job they had a pipe burst that flooded the downstairs. Many at our branch faced this challenge when we were hit with the ice storms. The proverbial when it rains it pours. The father asked to borrow some tools so I saw firsthand what they are facing in their house. We gave them the pay it forward anonymously, knowing the need for supplies. I will be providing sweat labor and some of the supplies they need, that I have on hand, to do the repairs. I am grateful for the pay it forward program!

I gave my card to Missoula Aging Services in Missoula.
Missoula Aging Services provides support for the elderly in our community with Meals on Wheels, Community Meals, Caregiver Support, Daily Living, Elder Rights, Medicare & Finances, Dementia Resources and more.
They are truly a blessing to the community and I have seen the work they do first hand which is amazing.
Thank you to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation for making this donation possible!

I selected Kris Vauthier to receive the pay it forward card. He is a Detective in Anaconda, MT. He and his family are known for giving back to their community. He was recently diagnosed with cancer and I felt it was good to give back to someone who has helped their community so much. He has been receiving treatment in SLC. His family has needed help with transportation, food and medical expenses.

I gave my card to the Adersgate United Methodist Church in Butte. The church did a very nice luncheon for my father in law. They provided the food and beverages, set up tables, cleaned up everything so we could be with family and friends. They purchased $500 dollars in safeway gift cards to use towards future funeral lunches. Here is a write up on the church's trumpet call that goes to all church members. The church was very thankful for this.

I very much appreciate the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation's 'Pay it Forward' program. What a great way to encourage us to look beyond our daily issues and struggles and to reach out to others who need it.

My niece works for Lake County (MT) Child and Family Services. I asked her to give it to someone who was really trying and could use a helping hand. She sent me the following note:

The card went to a single father who is preparing to have his child returned home. He has made tremendous progress and has done a lot of self-work. He has regular employment but still struggles with some of the necessities such as having an appropriate car seat. He expressed real gratitude, for although his life has been difficult, he has never had someone offer to help like this with no questions asked and no expectations of getting something in return. This man is in the office every day asking what else he can do and then goes and does it. I'm confident that it could not have gone to a better place.

Thank you, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation!
This year, I chose to use my pay it forward card to give to a local family and coworker. This friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2023.

My husband, Tyler Denny, works for Montana Resources. This is the second year where he asked me if I have a student in my class who could use some financial support. There is a family who attends the school that I teach at who is currently fostering three children. They have truly turned their lives upside down in the best way. I know that finances are tight right now, and that this will be a huge blessing to them. Thank you for allowing us to give back to children in our community.

I used my giving card to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Susan G. Komen is a cancer research program that funds not only cancer research, but also provides patient care to people who are, or have been affected by cancer. Many of my family members have gone through the struggles of cancer and I know the hardships it can bring to an individual or family, so I decided to donate my giving card to this foundation to help others get the education and resources needed to overcome and fight cancer.

I would like to say thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Washington for the opportunity to Pay it Forward in our communities.

I chose to give my gift card to the Food Pantry in Creswell, Oregon. A very small group of people donate a very large amount of their time in order to make and distribute meals to those who need them. I met with Susan who is a night shift nurse who spends her days at the pantry making it all happen. Their tireless efforts keep the whole thing running. I am happy that we could make a donation to such a worth while cause.

I gave my giving card to the Medical Career Academy (MCA) in Meridian, Idaho. The reason I gave it to MCA is because my wife recently completed their Medical Assistant program, and she would tell me that there were times they would run short on supplies. For example, they would practice drawing blood with numerous different needles, some of which are very inexpensive and could practice with these as much as needed. Other types of needles are very expensive, so they would only get one chance to use this type. I gave them the card to help stock up on supplies, so all of the students have an opportunity to perfect their skills.

This year I gave my giving card to Valicity's Once Upon a Time. They are a charity that donates back to the organizations that helped them out when their daughter lost her battle with leukemia. For the last 12 years they have been having a Princess Ball in her honor. They rotate between 406 For Kids, Angel Flight West, The Montana Hope Project and Ronald McDonald House. I have attached a copy of the ball letter.

Thank you very much for the card as I used it in a time of need. I am a medical assistant working in Butte, Montana, and going through a tough divorce. I’m very thankful for the card and I used it for living expenses. Thank you very much.

I provided the Pay It Forward card to a family whose father is facing challenging times with a serious medical issue. The father has been in/out of the hospital nearly every week for the past couple of months trying to recover from a pancreatic medical condition. This opportunity to Pay It Forward will bring some relief to their financial situation. On behalf of the family, thank you Washington Family/Foundation for your generosity!

I have been fortunate enough to have won several pay it forward cards and I always give these to my favorite charity, Cole's Pantry, based in Bridger, Montana. They started in 2010 in memory of Cole who died in a horse back riding accident. They provide food backpacks for needy children that live in the country. This has expanded across Montana and in 2017 they received the Governor's award for community service! Great organization feeding hungry children, couldn't be better. I thank Washington Corp for the great work they do!!

My wife has been a teacher in the Evergreen Public School District for 16 years. My children attend the school she goes to, and we are fortunate to be apart of a wonderful community there.

My wife's colleague and my children's first grade teacher, recently experienced a family tragedy. Her husband (who is an executive adminstrator in the distrct and well known in the school community) went in for routine shoulder surgery. During the procedure he lost access to his airway and was unable to breathe. He was in a coma for weeks, and sustained significant brain damage.

Their entire family has relocated for the time being to a treatment center in Chicago so her husband can receive the specialized medical care he requires. The family has been without income since September, is managing a mortgage and rental rates in Chicago, and life-altering medical bills.

We donated the giving card to their family. They were overjoyed to receive the gift and will use it towards lessening the burden this event has caused.

I gave the card to McKenzie Valley Young Life to use as they needed. Here is how they chose to use it.

Thank you for Washington Foundation's philanthropy with the Pay-It-Forward community enrichment program. Our YoungLife ministry in the McKenzie Valley are very appreciative of a Pay-it-Forward donation. We are located in a rural countryside, economically depressed area within Oregon. We are planning to have 20 attend the Washington Family Ranch summer camp in June 2024, and your donation will help us sponsor 2 youth to attend the Creekside camp. Here is a picture of our Area's youth having a fantastic time together last summer at WFR Camp.

I used my giving card to help Mountain Home Montana with Walmart gift cards to fulfill the basic needs of several mothers and or expecting mothers. This will help them get diapers, wipes, shampoo, toiletries and other basic needs.