The Power of Kindness
It's that time of the year when we gear up for a heartwarming adventure that's bound to fill your days with warmth, smiles, and a dash of magic. Drumroll, please... it's time to unveil the theme of our upcoming GivingTuesday campaign and trust us, it's a theme that'll tug at your heartstrings in the most delightful way possible. Introducing "The Power of Kindness."
What's This All About?
We believe in the extraordinary magic that unfolds when a simple act of kindness takes center stage. Imagine a world where even the smallest gestures can light up someone's day and bring joy to families in need. That's the world we're committed to creating through our "The Power of Kindness" campaign. It's all about spreading smiles, making a positive impact, and reminding each other that we have the power to make a difference, one small act at a time.
Why "The Power of Kindness"?
Let's be real – life can sometimes be a whirlwind of busyness and hustle. But amidst it all, there's something incredibly special about extending a hand to someone in need, surprising them with unexpected joy, and witnessing the magic of their reactions. From the spark of a child's eyes when they unwrap a long-awaited gift to the sigh of relief from a parent receiving a helping hand during back-to-school time, these moments of kindness hold a power that's beyond measure.
How Can You Join the Fun?
We're glad you asked! This campaign isn't just about us; it's about the collective strength of our community. We invite you to hop on this joyous bandwagon and spread kindness in any way you can. Whether it's sharing our campaign stories, participating in our social media challenges, or even starting your own ripple of kindness in your neighborhood, your actions matter and can inspire a wave of positivity.
Get Ready for the Adventure!
Starting today, get ready to embark on a heartwarming adventure with us. Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing stories that'll warm your heart, anecdotes that'll make you smile, and sneak peeks into the incredible impact your kindness has had on families across the nation. And trust us, you won't want to miss a single moment.
So, whether you're a long-standing supporter or a newfound friend, let's come together to celebrate "The Power of Kindness." It's about turning moments into memories, and through this campaign, we're setting out to do just that.
Stay tuned, spread the word, and let's make this GivingTuesday a day of magic, smiles, and boundless kindness!
Back to School Magic: Spreading Joy and Kindness
As the summer days slowly give way to the crisp air of fall, a new school year is just beginning. At Pay Away, we believe that every child deserves to start their school journey with excitement, confidence, and a dash of magic. That's why our Back to School campaign was designed to spread joy and kindness to families in need, creating heartwarming moments that will last a lifetime.
A Ripple of Kindness: The Back to School Campaign
Imagine the scene – Burlington and Citi Trends stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island along with Army and Air Force Exchange Services across the country, filled with the hustle and bustle of families preparing for the upcoming school year. What made this year truly special was the Back to School campaign orchestrated by Pay Away. With hearts full of compassion and a mission to create lasting memories, we embarked on a journey to pay off layaway balances for 350 families.
Denisse's Bright Beginning
Among the countless smiles and heartwarming stories, one story that touched us deeply was that of Denisse. A young girl with dreams as big as the sky, Denisse was eagerly awaiting the new school year. She had her heart set on one thing – a brand-new backpack and lunchbox that would make her first day of school even more special.
The Back to School campaign brought a touch of magic to Denisse’s life. As she walked into the store, her eyes lit as she saw her backpack and lunchbox, waiting just for her. The joy radiating from her was infectious, and the gratitude in her heart was palpable. It was a moment that captured the true essence of our campaign – turning dreams into reality and creating memories that will forever be etched in the hearts of families like Denisse's.
The Heart of the Campaign
The Back to School campaign wasn't just about backpacks and lunchboxes; it was about so much more. It was about spreading kindness, about uplifting families who were facing financial challenges, and about ensuring that every child had the opportunity to start the school year with hope and excitement.
The families we reached out to weren't just beneficiaries of our campaign – they became part of a larger movement, a community of kindness that thrived on shared moments and shared dreams. The impact of our campaign rippled far beyond the stores and layaway counters; it touched lives, united communities, and created connections that will last a lifetime.
A Heartfelt Thank You
As we reflect on the Back to School campaign, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who supported us. Your belief in the power of kindness made this campaign a reality, and your contributions created moments of magic that will never be forgotten.
As the school bells ring and children step into their classrooms, let's remember the joy and hope that the Back to School campaign brought to families like Denisse's. It's a reminder that when we come together, even the smallest acts of kindness can create a world of difference.
Thank you for being part of our journey to spread joy and kindness. Stay tuned as we continue to weave stories of compassion and transform lives, one moment of magic at a time.
Pay Away Fulfills Wish Lists for 153 Foster Children
Massachusetts - In an effort to continue the mission of inspiring hope and spreading kindness, Pay Away has partnered with Rise Above to pay off the wish lists of children in foster care. Rise Above provides Massachusetts children in foster care with enriching activities, opportunities and experiences.
Working with a group of donors dedicated to expanding Pay Away’s mission, a donation was made to Rise Above that provided:
- 125 youth with participation in after-school activities
- 13 young adults with needed items for their dorm rooms
- 15 youth with laptops
Providing these resources and experiences in extracurricular activities improves academic achievement, decreases risk of dropping out of school, builds confidence, promotes mental health, and helps youth feel a sense of belonging.
Rise Above Co-founder and Executive Director Sarah Baldiga shares, “Rise Above is honored to have partnered with Pay Away in our mission to give youth in foster care access to extracurricular activities. We are united in our passion and work to give all kids a joyful childhood and to help them build positive childhood memories. We're incredibly grateful for Pay Away's support!”
“Pay Away the Layaway’s mission is to inspire hope and spread kindness, and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand into supporting children in foster care,” said founder Lee Karchawer.
You can help Pay Away continue to expand its mission of paying off wish lists to inspire hope and spread kindness by making a donation at payaway.org/give.
Ulysees Gilbert Pays Off Layaways for the Fourth Year in a Row
Ocala and Tampa, FL - Ulysees Gilbert, linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, surprised families at Citi Trends stores in Ocala and Tampa, Florida on December 21st, 2022.
Nearly 80 families had their layaway balances paid in full by the football star. The surprise came just one day before all unclaimed layaway items were going to be returned to the shelves.
This is the fourth year Gilbert has worked with Pay Away the Layaway to surprise families. Since 2019, he has helped spread cheer and pay off unsuspecting families layaways in time for the holidays.
In 2019, Ulysees helped to surprise 60 families at the Ocala Burlington store by paying off their layaways just before the holidays. One woman who had her layaway paid said it was the kindest gesture she had ever received. He also partnered with Pay Away in 2020 and 2021 to pay off a total of 141 layaways in Ocala and Orlando Florida.
About Pay Away
Pay Away the Layaway’s mission is to spread joy and kindness to families. For 10 years, the organization has surprised unsuspecting families by paying off their layaway balances across the country. Give now at payaway.org/give
Pay Away the Layaway Teams Up With WHIO-TV to Suprise Families for the Holidays
Dayton, OH - On December 21st, 10 families were met with a huge surprise in the Dayton Burlington store. WHIO-TV teamed up with Pay Away the Layaway to give away 10 gift cards to families in need.
This is not their first time teaming up with Pay Away to help bring joy to families during the holiday season. In past years, WHIO-TV has paid off over 150 layaways at the Dayton area Burlington store.
One woman received a gift card for her family. She said “We have nothing for Christmas, so this is us getting started. It’s just really been a rough few months, so it’s really going to help us get Christmas going.”
WHIO-TV broadcasted the event live as Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist, McCall Vrydaghs was at the store handing out $1,000 gift cards and spreading joy.
About Pay Away
Pay Away the Layaway’s mission is to spread joy and kindness to families. For 10 years, the organization has surprised unsuspecting families by paying off their layaway balances across the country. Give now at payaway.org/give
Pay Away the Layaway Rings the Closing Bell at Nasdaq
New York, NY - In recognition of the organization’s 10th Anniversary, Pay Away the Layaway’s Founder Lee Karchawer and Executive Director Adam Wilbur rang the closing bell at Nasdaq in Times Square on December 21, 2022.
Karchawer spoke about the organization’s mission and what it means to have reached this milestone. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve surprised 1000s of families in all 50 states. This year alone we’re on track to surprise over 2,000 families and pay off nearly $500,000 in layaway balances.” He went on to recognize the impact that Pay Away has had on military families. “To the military families we’ve been able to meet and help all over the world, thank you. It’s an honor to be able to help the men and women who serve our country.”
Karchawer and Wilbur were joined by dozens of donors and volunteers at Nasdaq Marketsite in Times Square, where Pay Away was featured on their 7-story video tower during and after the market closed.
Wilbur made a point to highlight the donors who have made it all possible. “I want to thank the donors and volunteers who have enabled us to grow this idea into the movement it has become. In particular, I want to acknowledge the team at T-Mobile whose gift of $1 million last year helped bring our cause to the national stage. Their contribution and their team’s amplification of our message on social media was transformational.”
Pay Away’s mission is to spread joy and kindness to families. For 10 years, the organization has surprised unsuspecting families by paying off their layaway balances across the country.
You can help spread holiday cheer this year by making a donation at payaway.org/give
Welcoming @PayAwayLayaway to the @NasdaqExchange Closing Bell. https://t.co/uiXN7AYk7i
— Nasdaq Exchange (@NasdaqExchange) December 21, 2022
10 years ago, @PayAwayLayaway started as a random act of kindness & has grown into a nationwide movement dedicated to spreading joy. ????@NasdaqExchange is proud to recognize the impactful work they do to inspire hope, spread kindness and surprise families across America. pic.twitter.com/e8akOBMlVR
— Nasdaq Exchange (@NasdaqExchange) December 21, 2022
NFL Wide Receivers Give Back at the Holidays
Deebo Samuel, Michael Thomas, and Juju Smith-Shuster surprised hundreds of families for the holidays.
Three NFL stars surprised families in New Orleans, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Spartanburg, SC when they paid off their layaway balances and provided shopping sprees just in time for the holidays.
At the Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Saints WR Michael Thomas surprised military families where he paid off and greeted 21 families in Belle Chasse, LA.
The families there were overjoyed at both the generosity and opportunity to meet the NFL star who talked with and took pictures with all the families.
“This is really, truly what it’s all about… how many people I can impact and I can help.” Thomas said, as he announced to the families that their layaway balances had been paid off in time for the holidays.
In Spartanburg, SC, San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver, and Spartanburg-native Deebo Samuel surprised 50 families at Champs Sports on December 16th.
Each family received a $300 gift card and surprise gifts from Deebo and his family who attended the event. Samuel himself had planned to be there in person but wasn’t able to attend due to his recent injury, but he joined and talked with all the families via video.
In Kansas City and Los Angeles, Kansas City Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster continued his annual tradition of surprising families by paying off layaway balances through the Juju Foundation.
“At some point in my life, there were years that I didn’t get gifts and there were years that I had to share gifts. Knowing how it feels to be in their shoes at a young age and knowing I can give back is really cool” Smith-Shuster commented at his event in Kansas City.
About Pay Away
Pay Away the Layaway’s mission is to spread joy and kindness to families. For 10 years, the organization has surprised unsuspecting families by paying off their layaway balances across the country. Give now at payaway.org/give
New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Michael Thomas met and posed for photos with customers who were selected to have their layaway items paid off by Pay Away the Layaway at the Navy Exchange on NAS JRB New Orleans, December 8. pic.twitter.com/b2qMst2Xs3
— Navy Region SE (@Navy_Region_SE) December 9, 2022
Pay Away surprised 50 families in Spartanburg, SC today with @49ers WR Deebo Samuel (@19problemz)!
We paid off the layaways @champssports and each family got a $300 gift card and some surprise gifts from @19problemz!
Spread cheer this year with us at https://t.co/bRv0UHpDlc pic.twitter.com/hJ45jx0b4p
— Pay Away the Layaway ???? (@PayAwayLayaway) December 17, 2022
Recap of our Kansas City pay-away-the-lay-away with @TeamJuJu! ????
We paid off nearly $10,000 in layaway balances for gifts and holiday essentials at @Burlington! ???? pic.twitter.com/eryj4bxQqN
— JuJu Foundation (@JuJuFoundation) December 14, 2022
Nonprofit Surprises 385 Families in NYC by Paying Off their Layaways Just in Time for the Holidays
New York, NY – Pay Away the Layaway surprised families at 3 Burlington Stores in New York City on December 16, 2022.
Thanks to the support of generous donors and the help of volunteers, 385 families were surprised when Layaway Angels announced that their layaways had been paid-off in full.
Many were overjoyed hearing the unexpected, but greatly-appreciated news.
“I’m a mother of two and when they called me I didn’t expect this! They paid my layaway of $630. It’s so amazing, thank you!” one recipient said.
For 10 years, Pay Away the Layaway has been spreading joy and inspiring hope by paying-off layaway balances for unsuspecting families all across the country.
You can help spread cheer this year and give now make the holidays a little brighter for families who least expect it!
We just surprised 84 families @Burlington in Chelsea by paying off their layaways in time for the holidays!
We're headed to another store in NYC right now!
Spread cheer with us at https://t.co/PmfsjS22TC! pic.twitter.com/NsKd6SiG6p
— Pay Away the Layaway ???? (@PayAwayLayaway) December 16, 2022
New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas Surprises Military Families in Louisiana
Belle Chasse, LA - New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas surprised military families at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans on December 8, 2022.
21 families had their layaway balances paid in full, and they were overjoyed at the generosity and opportunity to meet the NFL star who talked with and took pictures with all the families.
“This is really, truly what it’s all about… how many people I can impact and I can help.” Thomas said as he announced to the families that their layaway balances had been paid off in time for the holidays.
Pay Away’s mission is to spread joy and kindness to families. For 10 years, the organization has surprised unsuspecting families by paying off their layaway balances across the country.
You can help spread holiday cheer this year by making a donation at payaway.org/give
— WGNO-TV (ABC) New Orleans (@WGNOtv) December 9, 2022
100 Families Surprised at Burlington Stores in the Bronx
Givsly helped surprise 100 families this holiday season at Burlington Stores in the Bronx on December 1, 2022.
They were joined by employees from Initiative and Fox Advertising Solutions who helped make this event a special experience for the families whose layaways were paid that day.
When familes arrived at the store, they were overjoyed to hear that their layaways were being paid off in full, thanks to Pay Away the Layaway.
A generous contribution from Givsly, gave 100 families a special holiday surprise that they’ll remember for years to come.
Pay Away’s mission is to spread joy and kindness to families. For 10 years, the organization has surprised unsuspecting families by paying of their layaway balances across the country.
You can help spread holiday cheer this year by making a donation at payaway.org/give
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Dallas Wings & T-Mobile Surprised 90 North Texas Families on 2021
As we celebrate 10 years of spreading joy to families around the holiday season, we are highlighting some of the incredible impact we've had over the past decade with you.
Layaway Angel Moriah Jefferson, point guard for the Dallas Wings, helped surprise over 90 families at Burlington Stores in Dallas in 2021.
The families were surprised with the news when they arrived at the store.
For some, this was the miracle they were waiting for. One recipient described how impactful this gift was to him and his family during the 2021 holiday season.
Having just survived Hurricane Ida, they had lost a large portion of their belongings in the storm and had put some essential items on layaway at Burlington.
“We needed it. We just came from Hurricane Ida so we were here from the storms. It’s a blessing and we appreciate it, we really do,” he explained.
Among the items he was able to take home to his family were new winter coats to replace the ones that had been destroyed by the storm.
The generous contributions from T-Mobile, along with the help of Dallas Wing’s Moriah Jefferson, gave nearly 100 families a special holiday moment and helped them head into the new year with high hopes.
Montel Williams Helped Give Back to Military Families During 2020 and 2021 Holiday Seasons
Military families overjoyed by Montel Williams and Pay Away the Layaway paying-off remaining NEX layaway balances during the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons.
As we celebrate 10 years of spreading joy to families around the holiday season, we want to recognize some of the incredible impact we've had over the past decade with your support.
Pay Away the Layaway partnered with the Marine Corps Veteran and TV personality Montel Williams for the second year in a row to give back to our service members during the 2021 holiday season.
Military members were invited to their local Navy Exchange Service locations where they had an extra special surprise waiting for them.
In 2021, 374 military families who shopped at NEX Norfolk, NEX San Diego, NEX Orlando and NEX Pearl Harbor were overjoyed when celebrity guest Montel Williams joined them virtually to announce that their remaining layaway balances had been paid-off in full by the nonprofit Pay Away the Layaway.
In 2020, a total of 22 Navy Exchange (NEX) stores from all around the world participated, with each creating that special moment for deserving 250 military families. Military families were invited to a Zoom call, and were overjoyed when celebrity guest Montel Williams delivered the news that ALL 250 active layaways had been paid-off in full.
NEX shoppers were able to take home the children’s items including toys, clothing and bikes meant for the holidays that they had put on layaway earlier in the year, right then and there.
“My military service spanned over 22 years in the Marine Corps and the United States Navy so I’m honored to have an opportunity to share a message with our military families…Today I’m here to thank you for your service, and thank military service members for their courage, their determination and their sacrifice. I also know all too often that sacrifice in silence and that the holidays are particularly hard for military families on a budget,” Williams stated.
The holiday season was all the more special for the military families who were surprised with the unbelievable news.
“Warfighters and their families in the Pacific make enormous sacrifices to serve this Nation, and we are very happy to celebrate this unexpected gift with them,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Kovalchek, Exchange Pacific Region commander. “This welcome surprise will make the Christmas and holiday season all the more special this year.”
With the help of incredible Layaway Angels like Montel Williams, military families got an early holiday surprise that they’d never forget.
This was the 5th consecutive year that Pay Away the Layaway spread joy to Navy Exchange shoppers, and they hope to continue spreading joy to military families year after year.