Austin Businesses to ``Pay It Forward'' on Sept. 11

AUSTIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2004--Employees from Dell, Liaison Resources, American Bank and the American Cancer Society are joining EnviroMedia to put into practice kind acts to strangers on the third anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorists' attacks on the United States. The movement, made famous by the "Pay It Forward" book and movie, encourages people to help out three strangers.

EnviroMedia President Kevin Tuerff started the effort two years ago with his employees to express his gratitude towards the people of Canada. Tuerff was stranded for three days in Gander, Newfoundland, when his plane was diverted from New York City immediately following the 2001 attacks.

“I experienced the amazing generosity from many, many Canadians”

"I experienced the amazing generosity from many, many Canadians," said Tuerff. "During this stressful time, a small town of 9,000 residents cared for, housed and fed more than 6,595 stranded airline passengers including my partner and me. I'll never forget their kindness, and I wanted to do something to continue that spirit of generosity."

For the past two years, EnviroMedia staffers have participated in "Pay It Forward 9/11," engaging in random and often anonymous acts of kindness around Austin. Teams of two employees were given $100 and invited to go out in the community to "pay it forward." Employees came up with their own unique ideas:

-- Purchasing $100 savings bond for a single mother's 9/11 newborn

-- Picking up the breakfast tab for everyone in a restaurant

-- Purchasing gardening tools for an environmental science class

-- Buying new magazines for a hospice waiting room

EnviroMedia employees will participate again this year on Friday, Sept. 10. The company also set up a Web-based blog/message board at http://payitforward.blogs.com where individuals can share how they're participating.

Liaison Resources, an Austin ad agency with 90 employees, will also participate by having employees meet at Saltillo Plaza where they will divide into small teams and receive a $100 to spend in two hours.

About 20 Dell employees plan to participate on Friday, Sept. 10, by picking up trash in a high litter area just east of IH-35 near downtown Austin. The company and an anonymous donor anticipate making a donation to Keep Austin Beautiful.

Tuerff-Davis EnviroMedia Inc. is the nation's only full-service public relations and advertising agency dedicated solely to improving public health and the environment. www.enviromedia.com