To celebrate the end of her cancer treatments, Jill Wolford and husband Eric of Cary, held a party in their backyard.
And in an effort to repay the kindnesses they’d received from others while she was sick, they set out a bucket.
“We put out a bucket and said, ‘Whatever you pay for a burger and a drink, throw it in the bucket,’” Jill recalled. They raised $724 that night.
Now, what since developed into the Caring Community Foundation will host its 15th annual Pay It Forward fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 10, to support cancer patients receiving treatment in the Triangle area of North Carolina with day-to-day needs such as rent, utilities, transportation, and more.
“This will be the 15th reunion for some of the guests who started in the backyard with a barbecue and ended with an of evening paying it forward,” said event chair Robin Foster. “Now 15 years later, the venue is a little fancier, the food a little more plentiful, and the activities a little more deluxe. One thing that doesn’t change is the compassion that fills the hearts of each and every one of our guests.”
Established in 2001 by the Wolfords, the Caring Community Foundation has helped more than 2,800 patients through the disbursement of more than $1.7 million. One hundred percent of individual donations go directly to patients, to help ease the burden of everyday concerns that weigh so heavily during cancer treatment.
Grab a ticket to the Pay It Forward event, and you’ll enjoy food, beer and wine, raffles, games, dancing, live and silent auction, mobile bidding, and live music with The Retros.
Live auction items include a trip for two to the CMA awards, tickets to see Jimmy Fallon live, a tour of WRAL studio, and more.
The event will be held at 6:30 p.m., at Noah’s event venue, located at 5180 Paramount Parkway in Morrisville.
To learn more about the Caring Community Foundation, and for tickets to the Pay It Forward fundraiser, visit caringcommunityfoundation.org
