I pose a serious question here, Jay, and to all my classmates...have you actually seen anyone pay it forward? Pardon me Jay, but your examples seem hardly concrete. In this time of economic distress, I cannot see anyone shelling out some money to pay for the cars behind them in a toll nor paying for another table in a restaurant. Not anyone locally at least. The most "Pay it forward"-ness that I have heard about is actor Johnny Depp tipping the waitress for his large table around $500.

I almost feel like what you are trying to start is a revolution. A Compassion revolution. A revolution that I so desperately want to happen, because there are too many people who I know would not blink an eye if someone were to be mugged in front of them. So many people would not even call the police if they heard screams from a house down the street. So many people just sit and wait for luck to happen to them.

The idea of paying it forward is indeed a utopian theory, but I do believe it is acheivable. Our grant could, if given to the right non-profit, encourage compassion right here in our county. I believe the goal is to begin working on our mission statement and ultimately set requirements so the organizations have to use it on people who need the help. We will have to have them explain, in great detail, what the money will go toward, and we will need proof that is what the money has gone toward afterward.

Jay wants us to find a non profit that has low-salary workers, but I honestly believe that most non profits operate mostly by volunteers rather than workers. And most of the employees have other jobs because they do not get paid much. I don't see this becoming a problem, as long as we avoid major companies (although i still believe Habitat For Humanity would be a great option).

Is it that bad in Pinellas? Maybe not as bad as other parts of the world. But it's better to help ourselves before we help other nations. It goes to the airplane-oxygen demonstration. If the oxygen masks deploy, adults are asked to put theirs on before they assist their child. This is to ensure safety for the adult and the child. The adult would not be much use if they fainted, eh?

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Andrea, thanks for the feedback and taking time to engage in the idea of pay it forward.

It is indeed Utopian.  Even if it's not fully realized, a fraction of the idea going forward would be better than none - yes?

I have indeed seen pay it forward actually happen right before my very eyes.  I provided examples of myself and one of my friends.  My license plate is "PayItFwd".  If I had a nickel for every motorist that has honked and given me a thumbs up motioning to my license plate, I'd be rich.  The idea clearly resonates.  When people pay it forward, it might not be a headline making event, but small gestures can mean big things to folks who need a helping hand.

Former presidents lending their credentials to disaster relief is a form of pay it forward.  I'm not a big fan of the current wave of celebrity telethons to raise awareness about an issue.  It enforces the idea we shouldn't care about something unless George Clooney, et al, cares about it.  But it seems to work in our culture today - but that's a distorted version of pay it forward.

Yes.  I would love to start a compassion revolution.  If compassion is too 'touchy feely' for folks - then we can call it a Golden Rule revolution.  I subscribe to no religion, but most world beliefs include a version of 'do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.'  That could be an appeal.  It's a good start at least.  I agree with you that something has to give to reverse the mass hypnosis of not giving a shit about the guy we step over who’s dying on the sidewalk.

I live downtown and walk my dog in the parks.  Everyday, as I see the homeless, I hear a Pet Shop Boys song - “The Theatre”.  I can’t NOT think of this song when I walk by someone sleeping in the grass or talking to themself in the sun.  I'm faced with the dilemma of helping the symptom or solving the problem.

QThe Theatre - Pet Shop Boys

There's another world here
Below shop windows
Upon the pavement
Where you wave goodbye

Boys and girls
Come to roost
From Northern parts
And Scottish towns
Will we catch your eye?

While you pretend not to notice
All the years we've been here
We're the bums you step over
As you leave the Theatre

As for the airplane oxygen mask analogy, I remain unconvinced.  I’m not entirely sold on the idea that America is gasping for air - and if it is - we don’t have enough masks for everyone.  I googled Pinellas county non-profits and found this web site that counts over 4,400 tax-exempt, non-profit organization in Pinellas county alone.  4,400!!!  A similar search overseas in a third world nation and I doubt you get nearly those numbers.  And I think it furthers my point that there is a certain amount of money to be made in the non-profit biz.  There are a lot of good hearted folks out there in non-profit land.  But there aren't that many doing it on the cheap or purely volunteering their time.  We all have mortgages, kid's college tuitions, and vacations to go on. ~ Jay Boda

I totally see where you are coming from, and that is an awesome license plate! The other day I was walking back to the residence hall from Publix and I spotted a homeless man resting beneath a tree in a tiny spot of grass. I was a little shocked, because he was the first homeless person I have seen since living in St. Pete (just moved here for school).

I think what we really need to do, if we can get the rest of the class on board with this, is to find a non profit that does this in Pinellas/Hillsbourough