Based on the popular movie and book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, LEADERSHIP Philadelphia's program, Pay It Forward, Philadelphia, was developed to encourage spontaneous good deeds. The cumulative effects of our individual efforts will increase trust and raise civic pride. Let's put a spin on "The City That Loves You Back" and be the city that loves you forward.

Class of 2007 team project at Fitzsimmons High School

Core Class teams "Juntos" undertake Pay it Forward, Philadelphia Projects

Junto 1 supported Philadelphia Youth Network by participating in an “Interview Expo” which helps to prepare children for the Work Ready Program. Junto 1 will also collectively sponsor one child to participate through personal contributions.

Junto 2 created an Internship Program to support the Mastery Charter School in the following capacities: Serving as a mentor for an internship students; participating in mock interviews; being guest speakers to discuss relevant business topics and professional career paths; hosting 15-20 students in a visit to their respective companies; serving as panelists in an Annual Career Day.

Junto 3 provided twenty 9th graders from two Philadelphia high schools who demonstrated a lack of interest and may be truant, with the opportunity to gain exposure to the practical applications of their studies through work readiness. Junto 3 sponsored a “Take Your School to Work” Day and a “So You Want to Be a Lawyer” Seminar, as well as the Sunoco Project that allowed students to bring hot lunch products to the Co-Op Store in Philadelphia to sell in order to develop math and economic skills. Sunoco donated the profits from lunches (a minimum of $1,000) to the schools to purchase a learning tool.

Junto 4 supported the program “Help Philly Read” to promote literacy by improving access to reading resources and volunteering as “reading coaches”. Junto 4 collected 700 books which were donated to 4 community partners: United Communities of Southeast Philadelphia, Jewish Employment & Vocational Service, Community Learning Center and People’s Emergency Center. A donation of $330 was given to Community Learning Center for the purchase of classroom materials.

Junto 5 developed “Partnership for Parks,” a cleanup of Fairmount Park at Lemon Hill. Junto 5, The Fairmount Park Commission, VWR and Fairmount Pizza donated equipment, supplies, plants and refreshments. Children were invited from a suburban school to build a connection to the city by working side by side with city students through participating in a park clean up event.

Junto 6 worked with Tioga Arms Women and Children Shelter to help “make this house a home” by soliciting over $3,000 worth of donations, which resulted in a renovated community room. Also, Junto 6 raised $2,300 to purchase and implement the First In Math® program at the Grover Cleveland Elementary School for the 2006/07 school year.

Junto 7 in conjunction with the staff of YouthBuild Philadelphia, Junto 7 assisted with the organization, administration and implementation of the 1st Annual YouthBuild Philadelphia Job Skills Challenge. Their involvement included: assisting with the creation of appropriate challenges; assisting with the organizational and logistical groundwork; and acting as judges for the Job Skills Challenge. It is hoped that the groundwork laid for this project can be reused in subsequent years.

Junto 8 visited the Woodstock Women and Children Homeless Shelter and organized a time of fun for the children and relaxation for the parents. Junto 8 also donated cribs and mattress sets, new high chairs, arts & crafts and games.

Junto 9 assisted the Achieving Independence Center (AIC) in their efforts to prepare youth aging out of foster care with skills that will enable success in the workplace, and to help launch an initiative to assemble care packages for AIC college students. Junto 9 partnered AIC students with “parents” for “Take Your Children to Work” Day. With the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and WorkReady Philadelphia, Junto 9 offered paid summer internships for AIC students. Due to the efforts of Junto 9, Widener University has offered a full four year scholarship to AIC student Sharon Jones.

Junto 10 rehabilitated a home on North Howard Street as part of Rebuilding Together Philadelphia's annual Spring Blitz. Junto 10 and its friends/family donated 25 days of work by project completion. Junto 10 also raised and contributed $4,500 to Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.

Junto 11 developed a program at the Robert Morris School where adults read to young children to promote early familiarity with books, word recognition and story concepts. Over one hundred books were read to eighty 3 and 4 year olds.

Download the Pay It Forward, Philadelphia reminder card!