Students Spread Free Money and Acts of Kindness for 9/11 Anniversary

For Immediate Release:

Media Contacts:
Kelli Johnson
512-773-7452 Cell, 512-476-4368 Office
[email protected]

Melanie Fish
512-293-9693 Cell, 512-476-4368 Office
[email protected]

WHAT:
Today’s high school freshmen may not remember the day planes hit the World Trade Center, so an Austin company is sharing Pay It Forward 9/11 with them as a reminder of the bond people shared after the tragedy.

EnviroMedia Social Marketing’s Austin employees and local high school students will surprise people with good deeds for the ninth year of Pay It Forward 9/11. Teams will use time off and cash, provided by EnviroMedia founders Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis, to do nice things for strangers. Each team will ask its gift recipients to “pay it forward” by helping someone else in any small way they can.

In years past, teams paid for someone’s prescriptions at a pharmacy, left a $100 tip for a diner waitress, and gave gift cards to people in line at an unemployment agency.

Communities In Schools of Central Texas XY Zone students will join EnviroMedia teams for this year’s Pay It Forward 9/11. XY Zone works with teenage boys on responsibility and community awareness. After their missions, teams will share success back at EnviroMedia’s offices and on the Pay It Forward Facebook page: Facebook.com/PayItForward9.11.

WHY:
On September 11, 2001, 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.

WHEN:
Friday, September 10, 2010
Noon – 2 p.m. CDT
Photographers or TV crews who would like to trail a Pay It Forward team should contact Kelli Johnson or Melanie Fish 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. “Like” Pay It Forward 9/11 on Facebook, and share your story.

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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