The pursuit of others’ happiness 
May 18, 2009 by Victoria Gonzalez
Organization pushes locals to help each other
Donovan Nichols, Pay It Forward lecturer, spoke to students and guests at the Las Vegas Library about how to make the world more friendly. Photo by Mike Kelly
Giving someone a flower or paying someone’s expired parking meter are the random acts of kindness that the Pay It Forward Foundation is all about.
Reminding the community of generosity and humanism was the goal for the “Pay It Forward – Change the World by Helping Others” discussion held yesterday.
The talk, held at the Las Vegas Library, was given by Donovan Nichols, program coordinator for student involvement and activities at UNLV. It focused on getting participants to think more altruistically in their lives.
“I want them to become aware of the multitude of opportunities that surround them so that they decide to make time to make a difference in the lives of others,” Nichols said.
The event, sponsored by the Humanist Association of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, featured discussions about how to begin a pay it forward movement and how to lead an ethical life of personal fulfillment.
“The goal of the talk is to…educate people about the Pay It Forward Foundation and Pay It Forward Day and encourage kindness, respect and generosity toward others,” said Loretta Cardaronella, president of the Humanist Association of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada.
Pay It Forward encourages people to do one good deed to three individuals without expecting anything in return. The recipients of the acts are instructed to pay the good deeds forward to three other individuals The next recipients do the same, creating a chain of goodwill.
Nichols, who is also the Pay It Forward Day founder in Las Vegas, said that if it was not for the altruistic good deeds of caring individuals who helped his then-impoverished family, he would have never received the education and opportunities he is grateful for today.
“There is no way that I could ever repay all of the people who have helped me and my family over the years, so all I can do to thank them is Pay It Forward,” Nichols said.
According to Nichols, it is important to pay forward each good deed that is done, because even the smallest act of kindness can brighten someone’s day.
“When we gave a flower to one lady. With a brightly shining smile she said, ‘This type of flower has very special meaning to me, thank you,’” Nichols said.
“The acts of kindness build community by restoring people’s faith in the goodness of the human spirit.”
Pay It Forward Day is an annual, international day of kindness, celebrated on April 30.
“I share personal and worldwide Pay It Forward stories with the audience to show them that this concept is feasible and worthwhile,” Nichols said of his presentation.
“Participants tend to walk away from the session happier and more optimistic.”
Great article!
We love stories like this and like to promote them on the Pass It Forward Movement’s website. Please take a look at http://www.aunitedworld.org/donovan.asp. One by one, people like Donovan (www.aunitedworld.org/programs.asp) and organizations that are also helping to change the world (www.aunitedworld.org/movement.asp) are starting their own version of a PIF program.
Excellent initiative! This is what my partner, Dr. Fred Horowitz (who writes for Third Agers at http://www.happiness-after-midlife.com) would call “Great Work.” It’s a place where we’re on the edge between comfort and discomfort. We don’t have the certainty and predictability of the other forms of work. It challenges and inspires us. It’s meaningful for us.
i wish i had attended that, sounds fabulous. love the movie, love the book, love the idea…the whole concept of doing something for someone who cant do it for themselves. i was always taught that when youre down/having a bad day/struggling, that serving another is the best approach. love others and feel loved. totally cheesy, but true. thanks for sharing this article girl.