Pay It Forward Day

Most people have seen the movie or read the book “Pay It Forward”. For those who have not, it's a story about a boy who commited to doing 3 good deeds for others in need. They only thing he asked in return, was that they each pass on the good deed, by doing something good for 3 more people in need, thus keeping the cycle going.

It's amazing what one good deed for someone in need can create. With everyone doing it and continuing the cycle of giving and kindness, the world can become a better more peaceful place. What a concept!

Blake Beattie is founder of International Pay It Forward Day. Below is a message from his site, http://payitforwardday.com/:

"Pay it Forward Day is a brilliant concept by Catherine Ryan Hyde from her book of the same title. Some people were originally quite skeptical of the whole idea: they said that it was good in theory, but not in practice. I challenged this point of view believing that people are genuinely giving by nature, but many get caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life. April 29 is a time when each of us can get to experience the ‘Power of Giving’ and a massive, positive ripple effect continues as Pay it Forward cards travel around with each good deed that is completed."

The next “Pay It Forward Day” is set to be:

Thursday 29th April 2010

Happy Earth Day!

Here are some great ways to celebrate in the Sacramento area:

(From sacbee.com, see URL noted at bottom of this list)

The 40th-anniversary Earth Day will be celebrated Thursday, and a variety of festivities will be part of the observation. Here is a list of activities beginning Thursday and running into the weekend.

On Thursday, read Debbie Arrington's rundown of key players, interesting sidelights, and must-know facts about Earth Day and its origins. The story will appear in The Bee on page A1 and on sacbee.com. And check out Arrington's look at how to volunteer to help the great outdoors; that will appear in The Bee on page D1 and on sacbee.com.


EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

Earth Day at the Capitol

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, south steps of the Capitol, 10th and N streets. Co-hosted by CalRecycle and Keep California Beautiful, this free event makes the most of trash culled from the fourth annual Great American Clean-up.

Students will display art made from garbage found during the recent Sacramento County Creek Week. And along N Street, CalRecycle will conduct the "Just Check It" tire sustainability fair with information on how a little air can help motorists go a long way for less.

For details, click on www.calrecycle.ca.gov.

City Hall celebration

The city of Sacramento hosts an Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 915 I St., and across the street at Cesar Chavez Park. Sponsored by Mayor Kevin Johnson and the City Council, this free Earth party offers entertainment (a magic show, Radio Disney, a theatrical performance and Harlem Globetrotter Wun "The Shot" Versher) as well as information on composting, recycling and cleaner air. For details, call (916) 808-6525.

At the movies

• "Oceans," a G-rated documentary from the Disneynature label, opens Thursday at local theaters. The stunningly beautiful, 84-minute film is narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud take audiences to all five oceans and remind us of the importance of protecting our underwater expanses and creatures.

Plant a tree

• Apropos for the "City of Trees," the Sacramento Tree Foundation hosts several events this month, including guided tree tours and tree plantings. (For a full list: www.sactree.org.)

• On Saturday morning, volunteers will plant trees and restore habitat at the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Elk Grove. To sign up, call (916) 924-8733, ext. 122.

Save energy and money

• On Earth Day, the California Energy Commission officially kicks off its Cash for Appliances rebate program, including up to $200 on energy-efficient refrigerators, $100 on washers and $50 on air conditioners. For details and forms: www.cash4appliances.org.

Help to clean up

• The Sierra Club has organized trash cleanups and service days. For example, the Sierra Club Placer Group will hold a trash pickup starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Meet at the Auburn City Hall parking lot, 1225 Lincoln Way. To register, call (530) 889-9392.

Earth Day in Loomis

• Find plenty of Earth-friendly ideas at the free Loomis Earth Day celebration, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Loomis Train Depot, Horseshoe Bar and Taylor roads in downtown Loomis.

More than 40 community groups will take part. Learn about wildlife (including wolves and reptiles) as well as water conservation, bike trails and much more. For more information, call (916) 652-8606.

Learn to help the Earth

• Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships combines conservation with creative fun by mentoring young people interested in environmental stewardship.

Catch the "Trashion" show -- featuring wearable art made of discarded paper, plastic, and other material -- put on by the Truckee High School Envirolution club during the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Village at Squaw Valley.

For details: www.tahoetruckeeearthday.org or www.4swep.org.

Make a donation

• On Thursday, people can visit American Eagle Outfitters stores in the U.S. to donate $1 to Student Conservation Association (SCA) programs that help young people to participate in conserving the environment.

American Eagle stores will match every donation dollar for dollar. In addition, AEO is partnering with SCA on an Earth Day sweepstakes, featuring a $500 shopping spree at American Eagle, plus other prizes.


http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/21/2695343/earth-day-celebrating-by-participating.html