Pima Butte accepts ‘pay it forward’ challenge

Pima Butte Elementary School’s staff, students and parents took the monetary reward from one charitable act and turned it into six additional ‘pay it forward’ endeavors.

When Treasured Smiles Children’s Dentistry offered a $1,000 prize to the MUSD school bringing in the most pounds of food per student for the local food bank at Thanksgiving, Pima Butte received that coveted prize.

However, Principal Matt Montoya wanted those monies to do even more at this holiday season. “With the money we were awarded, I am challenging you and your grade level teammates to pay it forward. The possibilities are endless and are only limited by your creativity and passion. Get your students and parents involved to help out, call on local businesses and organizations to try and grow your portion of the $1,000,” he told his staff.

Each grade level (usually three to four classrooms) received $167. Staff met Wednesday to report on the results of their efforts in the Pima Butte Elementary Pay It Forward Challenge. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Montoya told the governing board that evening.

The first grade team focused on the Child Crisis Center of Arizona, helping to provide children’s pajamas, socks, underwear and diapers for families in transition and in need of basic necessities.

A Saddleback Elementary School family received a complete Christmas from the second grade team, while the third grade team bought and collected toys for a children’s center.

A local family shelter was the recipient of a cereal drive sponsored by the fourth grade team, and the fifth grade team provided aid to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

And what about the kindergarten classes, the youngest kids at Pima Butte, and their teachers, Tammi Dyer, Tabri Hicks and Agnes Iraci?

“We were excited to read about the Salvation Army Angel Tree opportunity that was available for us to be a part of because we wanted our ‘pay it forward’ money to benefit our own Maricopa kids,” said Dyer. Kids and parents got involved, raising an additional $81 to add to the original $167 and donating many toys and toiletries.

“We hope our involvement made a difference, and we are proud to be a part of the best school in the world,” Dyer said.

On Tuesday the kindergarten teachers and some of the parents and students met after school at the Maricopa Public Library with the toys and a check for the Salvation Army. Mary Lou Smith offered the organization’s thanks and collected the donations. “There are just so any families in need right now,” she told them.

Only one small problem arose. “Where are kids? They need to open their presents and see what they got,” said one little girl, proudly displaying the gifts she and her family donated.

“This is an exciting time of year,” Montoya told his staff via e-mail. “And we have the ability to make the lives of others brighter.”

The Pima Butte Pay it Forward Challenge did just that–paid it forward and more.

Photos by Joyce Hollis