The Caring Community Foundation hosts its 14th annual Pay It Forward event on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m., at the Raleigh Marriot City Center.
This year’s theme is Forever in Blue Jeans. Pay It Forward was originally held as a backyard barbecue event where people dressed casually. The Caring Community Foundation is channeling back to this relaxed atmosphere and encouraging people to dress in what makes them feel most comfortable, whether that be in a fancy cocktail dress or some comfy blue jeans.
Sylvia Hatchell, UNC Chapel Hill Women’s basketball coach and cancer survivor, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Pay It Forward event. Hatchell was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013, and has since overcome cancer as well as serving as an award-winning basketball coach.
Also at the event will be the Bling Ring Raffle. People can purchase their own Bling Rings for the opportunity to win a piece of jewelry from Diamonds Direct Crabtree, online for $25 or at the Pay It Forward event for $30.
A buffet, hor d’oeuvres, beer, wine and other drinks are included in the ticket price.
Event tickets are available for $75 apiece and raffle tickets are available for $10 apiece. Tickets can be purchased online at caringcommunityfoundation.org.
Cary Woman's Inspiration
The Pay It Forward event was founded and started 14 years ago in 2001 by Jill Wolford of Cary, a breast cancer survivor. The help she received from her family, friends and community as she went through treatment inspired her to pay it forward and help others around her who were going through the same thing.
With the help of members of her community, Wolford raised $724 with the first Pay It Forward event. This money was given anonymously to the late LuAnne Goodwin, a single mother suffering from breast cancer.
Godwin’s gratitude led to the creation of the Caring Community Foundation and inspired many other people to become involved with the Pay It Forward event in years to come, helping it to develop into what it is now.
“I will pass this feeling forward to someone else so that they may know how I feel,” Godwin wrote in her thank you letter to the Caring Community Foundation. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart; there are no words to describe how I feel. I am a mom on disability with terminal breast cancer and right now I feel like one of the luckiest people ever!”
Over the years, the Caring Community Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to help over 2,500 cancer patients. This money helps relieve expenses from cancer treatment costs to home mortgages.
Donations are being accepted for the auction and raffle. Volunteer spots are also still available for those interested in volunteering at this year’s event.
