Individuals Paying It Forward

12/24/00
Catherine,
I am an Australian, a teacher by choice, and I have spent what feels like a lifetime trying to teach what you have taught me in your book in less that 300 pages.

I hope you receive letters like this all the time, and that mine becomes lost in the thousands of others that cross your electronic path these days.

I just purchased your book yesterday, and have been lost to my family since. What a priceless piece of work. It makes me feel like I'm not so strange after all. I'll tell you a short story, to prove the truth in your theory.

Before I even read your book, about three weeks ago, I was looking for a way to teach my children about the spirit of the season. I wanted to give some ... anonymous gesture ... so that there was no chance of us being paid back for it, so the message would be clear to the boys. Turned out we had to warn people in the street of what we were going to do in a Christmas card, and it didn't end up anonymous enough for my liking. I had finished the school year, and I took the boys out of school for a couple of hours to mow and weed the nature strips to tidy the street for our block ... about 30 houses.

One woman even gave my youngest who is only 6 five dollars, but I gave it back (much to his disgust!). Then, ever since, we have been receiving cards and gifts from the neighbours who we don't even know from a bar of soap. Boxes of shortbread, candy canes, lollies, cards ... which my partner and I smiled at ... and forwarded to a charity in town ... anonymously.

Why do I tell you this? Because I believe it is important that people with your idealism maintain spirit that it does exist. I would love to start a Pay It Forward movement in Australia. Maybe have a Pay it Forward site on the internet, so people can report on what someone else has done, to help others with ideas.

If I had the spare cash, I would have bought every copy of your book from the bookstore and given them out for free, but I'm not sure that is going to make enough difference, so I'm working on trying to convince our local theatre operator to donate one free showing to the cause ... to see what happens.

I wish you the best Catherine, and any ideas (or objections) you have in regard to spreading your message, would be greatly appreciated.
You have a special gift.
Anthony
>>>>>
1/8/01
Sorry to annoy you again Catherine, but I would like to run a couple of things by you.
Today, I went and bought the remainder of your books from our local book shop. I have come up with an idea that I like. I have designed a note for the front page which reads ...

Pay It Forward.
This book has been provided to you free of charge under the condition that it never sits on a book shelf. The person who purchased it originally bought 15 books in the hope that the message in them would spread from person to person. This can only happen if you pass it on to someone else. If you start to read, and it's not your cup of tea, pass it on to someone else. A stranger, a friend, donate it to a library (but don't let them put it on the shelf!), whoever. Ask a book store to give it away if you don't know someone who may benefit from its message.
If you get desperate, ring the original purchaser, who will retrieve it and start the cycle again.
Further information about this movement is available from :
www.payitforwardfoundation.org

Since an anonymous gift can have a greater effect, feel free to write just your first name, or Anon on the list. Wouldn't it be funny if a total stranger returned the same book to you.
The first book was given to a mother and daughter in the book shop where they were all purchased. You should see the look on someone's face when they understand there can be no reward, no ulterior motive … it is a reward in itself. Every time you 'Pay It Forward' in any form, know in your heart that the same thing is happening to the receiver, even if you don't get to see it.
First Name______________ Date _______________________

So that's my idea for the book. I tell you now. It felt great.

The two ladies in front of me joked that it must be a pretty good book if I was buying so many. I gave them one, and they read the dust cover. "Sounds like my kind of book. Where were they?" I told her it was a gift, but it was never to be put on a book shelf, she had to pass it on. She was stunned, and wished me "an exceptional life."

I already have that :) but what a lovely thing to wish for a stranger.

Then I saw one of my year 12 students who has a heart of gold ... so I gave her one too.

I might take a few to the library, make a couple of book stands with a notice so that they never get put on the book shelves to be lost. See if I can get the head librarian to agree to be a bit .... radical :) Not something I tend to equate with a librarian at the best of times.

Another funny thing, when I said I wanted to buy all of the books they had left, I got the strangest look from the sales girl. She said. 'that's funny, a guy came in the other day and said if he had enough money he'd buy the whole lot, but he only bought one.' Then she looked at me and said. 'it was you wasn't it!' I said 'Yep, and I found the money and I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do with it.' Life is too cool. When I've put the note in the front, I might go and give her one too.

If you can think of a better, shorter way to get the spirit of the message to the reader, I'd be happy to change what it says.

The second thing I'd like to ask ... is for some help ... with the card. You see, I have no trouble explaining the concept with enthusiasm orally, but I'm afraid my gift is not in the written word. (Maths and Science are my passion I'm afraid!). This is my feeble attempt, but I'd prefer that it came from the author :)

Pay It Forward
This card has been provided by someone who wishes to "Pay Forward" an act of goodwill to continue a cycle initiated by the name at the top of the card. Use only first names, or even Anon (anonymous) so that the spirit of the act remains intact. Feel free to include your age or the date you Passed It Forward.
Further information is available :
On the Web : www.payitforwardfoundation.org
Through the Movie : Pay It Forward
Through the Book : Pay It Forward - Catherine Ryan Hyde

I'd design the thing properly and send you a jpeg pic before I had them printed, so you could give them the once over.

If it actually gets up and running, it'd be nice to have an Australian address to forward from ... i.e. www.payitforward.com.au or a link from the main page to an Australasian, European, African, North American page or memo board ....

You are onto something special Catherine :) I feel it in my bones. I know my classes will "seem to think you have come up with an overly utopian idea" ... and they will fall in love with it.

Thanks ...
Anthony