Pay It Forward Day, April 28

Pay It Forward Day and it’s a day to celebrate the power of kindness and generosity. Pay It Forward Day is an international day of giving and sharing, and it’s all about doing something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return.

The idea of Pay It Forward Day was first introduced in 2000 by Blake Beattie, a student from Australia. Since then, Pay It Forward Day has grown into a global event, celebrated in countries around the world. Every year, millions of people participate by performing random acts of kindness and sharing love with those around them.

There are so many ways to pay it forward and make a positive difference in someone else’s life. You could buy a stranger’s coffee in the morning, make a donation to a charity, or even just give someone a hug. Paying it forward doesn’t have to involve money or tangible items; it can be as simple as taking the time to listen to someone’s story, offering a kind word of encouragement, or helping out with a chore.

As an employer, there are many ways you can “Pay it Forward” to your employees or empower them to pay it forward to others in the community.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Launch an Employees Assistance Fund (or if you already have one, remind employees about this incredible employee benefit). An Employee Assistance Fund (EAF), also known as an Employee Relief Fund or an Employee Crisis Fund, is a program which can be used to provide financial support to employees impacted by disasters, personal emergencies, and other hardships. You can learn more about the benefits of working with America’s Charities as your EAF partner here.
2. Let employees pay it forward by supporting their favorite charities through workplace giving, matching gifts, dollars for doers grants, and volunteerism. You can learn about what these programs entail and how to start one here.

No matter how big or small, every act of kindness has the potential to make a positive impact on someone else’s life. Let’s take the time to spread kindness and generosity and make a difference in the lives of those around us. Together, we can create a ripple effect of kindness that will make the world a little bit brighter.