Pay It Forward!

Thursday, October 16th, 2008 @ 8:02AM

We had great guests in studio again...Brandon and Charlie from The Pay it Foward Foundation.

MSnugZPresident/CEO Brandon Mackay and Vice President Charley Johnson have created silicon bracelets that are imprinted with the phrase, “Pay It Forward.”  The bracelets are distributed to anyone who wants them, at no cost whatsoever (SnugZ even covers the shipping).

The inspiration for the bracelets came from the book, “Pay It Forward,” written by Catherine Ryan Hyde.  Of course, the book was later made into a feature film in 2000, and starred Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment.  In 2000, Hyde and some of her associates established the Pay It Forward Foundation with the primary purpose of educating and inspiring students to realize that they can change the world.  The foundation also provides students and teachers with materials to “pay it forward.”  SnugZ Vice President Johnson is a board member of the foundation.

To date, Johnson and Mackay have distributed more than 300,000 bracelets.  The first 100,000 went out the door in about six months, the second 100,000 took about three months, and the third 100,000 will probably only take a few more weeks.  The bracelets have been shipped to six continents and over 50 countries.  Johnson and Mackay have said their goal is to distribute billions of bracelets around the world.  “You have to think, so why not think BIG?  Some how, some way we will make this HUGE goal a reality,” says Johnson.

“The plan for the future is to change the world like no one has ever seen before or ever thought possible.  There are simply too many people in the world right now who are begging for change.  For us, there’s no money involved, and we’re not asking for donations.  We simply want to help the people you pass by every day become better,” Johnson said.

He added, “If you want to see the full effect a simple Pay It Forward bracelet can have, go to lunch today and buy lunch for the person behind you.  After the shock of the person goes away, remove your bracelet, hand it to him or her, and ask that person to pay it forward.  Then, just walk away.  You’ll quickly see how addicted you become to taking care of others, and seeing the response you receive from a single act of kindness.”
Check out http://www.payitforwardtoday.net
Thanks!
Keith