Ad Agency Spreads Free Money and Acts of Kindness on 9/11 Anniversary

For Immediate Release:

Media Contact:
Kelli Johnson, 512 476 4368 ext. 310
[email protected]

WHAT: The man who started the Pay It Forward 9/11 movement is giving his employees cash and strict orders to leave work and do something good for strangers with the money.

EnviroMedia’s Austin, Texas and Portland, Ore. employees will surprise people in both cities for the eighth year of Pay It Forward 9/11. Ten teams in Portland and 20 teams in Austin are planning deeds like paying for someone’s prescriptions at a pharmacy, leaving a $100 tip for a diner waitress and giving gift cards to people in line at an unemployment agency.

Teams of two will give away $100 each and ask their gift recipients to “pay it forward” by helping someone else in any small way they can.

WHY: On September 11, 2001, EnviroMedia cofounder Kevin Tuerff was flying over the Atlantic when planes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers. Tuerff’s flight and 36 others landed in the small Newfoundland town of Gander, where residents gave the stranded travelers places to sleep, blankets, pillows and home-cooked meals. Tuerff started Pay It Forward 9/11 to honor the kindness of those strangers.

This year, Tuerff and business partner Valerie Davis will have given away more than $13,000 since starting Pay It Forward 9/11 in 2002.

WHEN: Friday, September 11, 2009 from 9 – 11 a.m. CDT and PDT

Photographers or TV crews who would like to trail a Pay It Forward team should contact Kelli Johnson or Zach Hyder for specific locations.

JOIN: For the general public: Any business or individual can make a difference in the community. EnviroMedia would love to hear what others are doing. Make a comment at enviromedia.com/payitforward. You can also become a “fan” of EnviroMedia on Facebook to learn more about this year’s Pay It Forward 9/11.

Our first client: H-E-B Environmental Affairs (1997)

America Recycles Day is cofounded by EnviroMedia. (1997)

With a staff of four, EnviroMedia wins Don't Mess with Texas (1998),
which we later lead to victory as America's Favorite Slogan. (2006)

Our work with Texas tobacco prevention and cessation campaigns begins. (2000)

We add Pay It Forward 9/11 to regular community service work,
which has always included Adopt-a-Highway and Meals on Wheels. (2002)

EnviroMedia becomes the agency of record for Green Mountain Energy Company. (2002)

EnviroMedia is recognized for niche and core values with Ethics
in Business Award from Samaritan Center, St. Edward's University. (2003)

EnviroMedia begins work with Texas Department of State Health Services,
fighting the flu, HIV/AIDS, and obesity. (2003)

EnviroMedia helps take Dell from “environmental laggard” to
“environmental leader” in electronics recycling. (2003)

North Texas Municipal Water District becomes first to launch Water IQ,
the conservation brand we created for the State of Texas. (2005)

Agency principals attend their first United Nations
Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia. (2007)

EnviroMedia partners with University of Oregon to launch GreenwashingIndex.com,
which Brandweek names a "Bright Idea of the Year." (2008)

We open our West Coast office in Portland, Oregon, the other "weird" city. Clients have included
Oregon State University, Northwest Health Foundation, and Puget Sound Partnership. (2008)

car2go hires EnviroMedia to help introduce North America to a better way to carshare. (2011)

EnviroMedia is named one of top five small agencies of the year by PRWeek. (2012)

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