I suppose it doesn’t have the same ring, but keep an open mind as you read down the page.

We are 2 days from kickoff!

The good news keeps filing in, the day’s events are taking shape and most importantly, the city is a buzz with Pay It Backward chirps (it’s chirps, right?).

But wait! There’s more!!

If you haven’t heard by now, we are giving away a handful of “Coffee Hero” cards for Wednesday’s events. Coffee Hero cards are probably my most favourite thing in the world right now. I’ve been begging the folks at Daily Challenge to let me have one, but to no avail. Instead, they’ve let me write a blog post about how 5 people (lucky fives!) can become the “Bee’s Knees” of PIB Day. Thanks.

A Coffee Hero card lets you walk into any Second Cup, this Wednesday, and buy coffee for everyone in sight!

I’m not kidding. This is why I love it - I’ve always wanted to blow the socks off of a bunch of strangers and make a scene while doing it. Now this is your chance. If you are the first - THE FIRST! - to do any one of the following things, we will send you a Coffee Hero card valid for Wednesday’s Pay It Backward day.  I can only hope you’ll record the scene you make… for my sake.  And your Coffee Heroes are….

1. The first person to: Tweet this post
2. The first person to: Snap a picture of our ad in today’s Metro and post to Flickr
3. The first person to: Put a PIB Badge on their website/blog
4. The first person to: Write a blog post about why they love PIB
5. The first person to: Create their own Pay It Backward Facebook Group for their friends to storm a Second Cup location together.

We’re also giving away two totally awesome Pay It Backward Day t-shirts - as seen above on our beautiful model, Samantha Holt. These two shirts go to the following Do-Gooders:

1. The first person to: recruit 2 new members to join www.dailychallenge.org
2. The first person to: to view and share this video with their networks (via Twitter, Facebook, blog, etc)

Ready? Go! (Just be sure to leave us a note in the comments once you’ve accomplished your tasks!)

I am the last guy that should be writing a blog post. You wouldn’t believe the frustration that has come my way just trying to ink something simple and to the point. This is my first blog post and to be honest, I had to consult someone about how to do this. Does this mean I’m a blogger now?

So what is this blog post all about?

Recently, Daily Challenge contacted me and had all these really incredible things to say about my involvement in Pay It Backward Day. They even called me a hero! A hero. really? It is flattering to be sure, but the last time I checked, I can’t leap over tall buildings nor do I wear a cape or sport a utility belt.

I really didn’t understand the “hero” remark. I thought about it for a while and thought - “This ‘do gooding’ thing is pretty simple and effortless.” All I did was pick up the phone, share my ideas and made sure others got involved in the fun. You see, I am fortunate enough to work with really amazing people who love the PIB Day concept so much, it hardly needed a push to take off. When I explained the event and how I wanted my company to participate, there was an instant feeling of excitement and enthusiasm which got me even more revved up! So much so, that I went a bit well… crazy. Not like ‘Tom Cruise on Oprah’ crazy. Good crazy. Okay maybe crazy isn’t the right word… how about inspired. The enthusiasm ignited something - Inspiration!

That’s when it became a whirlwind. I had all these ideas I wanted to bring to the table. The challenge was to find a way to use my ideas in a way that would get people to participate. When the dust settled, something became very clear. I had a “reach” - one that had been in front of me all along. I had a way to send the Pay It Backward concept all the way from Vaughan Mills in Vaughan to as far as Devonshire Mall in Windsor! After hearing the story of the original Pay It Backward, I realized that it would be impossible to ignore the message and my ability to distribute it further.

This whole “hero” thing has everything to do with my actions, I’m told. The more I think about it, the more I see these actions being performed by the people around me. It’s never really been a single effort on my part. The company I work for is more than a real estate company. It is a group of people. Individuals who have genuine concern for their communities and who will take part to make them successful. Our participation is a really big part of who we are. We are probably a lot like you.

I wasn’t looking to ignite people, I just wanted to help. The other stuff just seemed to come together on it’s own.

Thanks to fiskfisk for the use of the Guitar Hero photo.

Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely venture. You’re often working with yourself or a small team, trying to find funding, get exposure, and make your startup the next hot company. You rely on your community for support and encouragement – but that involves giving back to the community whenever you can.

When I first met the guys at Daily Challenge I knew they were a special kind of entrepreneur – not only were they building a company from scratch, but they were doing it with a unique goal – to change the world. These social entrepreneurs are doing something that not many others are – they’re devoting their lives to a company that wants to leave a positive affect on the world around them.

I’ve watched Daily Challenge grow from the early days into the well-known network of Do-Gooders it is today, and I know that much of it is owing to the generous spirit and kind hearts of Darius and Afshin, the two founders. When they told me they were organizing Pay It Backward Day back in the spring I knew they’d be a success, and I was right. But it wasn’t just because they had a great idea to raise money for a great charity, or because they had the support of a big coffee company like Second Cup. They succeeded because they had the support of the community at large – they had volunteers working behind the scenes on logistics and promotion; they had friends, family and strangers buying coffees for the person behind them; and they had the media and online world singing their praises. The success of the first Pay It Backward Day was dependant on the community, just like the success of any startup is dependent on the support of its audience.

Looking to the next Pay It Backward Day I’m so excited and confident that the community will be there for Darius, Afshin, Daily Challenge and SickKids Hospital again – they deserve it. And if you’re an entrepreneur looking for success, remember that sometimes it’s not about what the community can do for you – it’s what you can do for the community. The team at Daily Challenge have made it their livelihood to give back – so it’s easy to see why everyone is behind them. Come out on September 30th, find out more about Daily Challenge and the amazing things they’re doing, and buy a coffee for the person behind you – your small act of kindness will result in a $5 donation to Sick Kids, and immeasurable good karma.

Erin Bury is the Community Manager at Sprouter, an online collaboration tool for entrepreneurs. She believes in the power of positive thinking, random acts of kindness – and that it only takes a small group of people to change the world.

We are now only 7 days away from what’s set to be the most exciting Do Gooder phenomenon ever seen by Ontarians!

Pay It Backward Day is taking place at 170+ Second Cup cafes across the province next Wednesday, September 30. With the support of our sponsors The Second Cup Ltd and Silk Soy Beverage, together as a community will be raising funds for the amazing SickKids Hospital through 2000 small acts of kindness.

Here’s how you can get involved right now:

1. Join the Movement - Connect to the Pay It Backward Day website easily with your Facebook or Daily Challenge account to join hundreds of other Do Gooders.
2. Find Your Location - Pinpoint the Second Cup cafe in your ‘hood that you’re going to pay it back at. Why not take your friends, family or colleagues with you for the magic?
3. Hit the Headquarters - Are you in the Downtown Toronto area? Come join us at 307 Queen St. (Queen/John) for special entertainment, celebrities, media, and more on September 30th!
4. Share the Goodness - Invite your Facebook friends to the Pay It Backward day website, post badges on your blog, or tweet away with #PIBday!
5. Watch the Videos - See the amazing videos on YouTube entitled “I’m Alive Today Because of SickKids” and “Why do YOU Pay It Backward?”.
6. Enter the Contest - You could win an iPod Nano with a click of a button if you’re participating in Pay It Backward Day!
7. Follow Us - Follow Pay It Backward Day on Facebook, Twitter or right from our website.

And that’s (almost) it! Stay tuned to the blog for more exciting announcements over the next week.

Do let us know in the comments what else you’re doing to get involved!

Contrary to popular belief, September 30th’s Pay It Backward Day isn’t just about coffee. Though we are hoping to encourage thousands of acts of ‘coffee kindness’ in order to raise money for SickKids Foundation, it is important to keep the bigger picture in mind.

In truth, the heart of the Pay It Backward Day movement goes far beyond buying a single cup of coffee for somebody one day of the year. Really…take a moment to imagine if every person in every country did something kind for somebody else every day of the year. What would the world be like? Pretty powerful stuff.

Ultimately, the Pay It Backward Day movement aspires to positively impact a community. ‘Paying it backward’ can (and usually does) mean something special and unique to everyone who comes out in support. Whether it be to cultivate a compassionate awareness in the community, to encourage people to be proactive, or to reign in a sense of social consciousness - people everywhere pay it backward for a greater purpose. There’s no right or wrong answer to the question “Why do you pay it backward?”

Peep this brand new #PIBday video featuring a mix of local celebrities, influencers, and every-day Torontonians telling us why they will be paying it backward next Wednesday:

So… Do Gooders of the interwebs…why do YOU Pay It Backward? Let us know!

**Super huge thank you to Notable TV for all of their amazing work on this video! And of course our all star Do Gooders line up that helped us film the shoot.

One of the best parts of going to a concert for a great band is the crowd. It begins with the excitement that fills the air entering the venue. We’re all there to see a favourite artist and the excitement pouring into the stadium is palpable. Which songs will they play? What will they open with? What will be said on stage? The house lights go down, the stage lights go up, and we’re all entranced.

The energy of the crowd reaches another level when the band plays their biggest hits and cellphones and camera flashbulbs fill the air. Then, almost invariably, something magical happens. The lead singer brings us to the chorus and… stops singing. But the concert doesn’t grind to a halt. Rather, the voices of the crowd fill the air. Some of us can sing, and some of us can only yell – but from all that practice alone in our room or in the shower, we all know the words. And by the thousands of us coming together, we create something that none of us could ever achieve on our own, and something none of us will soon forget.

When I learned that the second installment of Pay it Backward Day would bring together people from across Ontario at over 170 Second Cup locations, I felt that same excitement of entering the stadium before a big show. So many of us buy a coffee every day, but we do it alone and we do it for ourselves. On September 30, we’ll have a chance to do something we’d do on our own anyways, but by Paying it Backward, we unite. By joining the movement, our voices unite to create something we could never duplicate on our own. We will make history and we’ll help hundreds, even thousands of children just by doing we’d do on our own anyways. But by doing it together.

So let’s raise our voices and make September 30th a day to remember. Pay it Backward, everybody - we all know the words so let’s make something memorable.

Hey Do-Gooders, it’s time to party!

Pay It Backward Day is a BIG event, so it clearly deserves the proper kick-off fiesta. This September 22nd, Daily Challenge and Notable TV will host the official Pre PIB Day Party - and it’s going to be quite the classy event.

Here are a few quick details…

• Where: Atelier (508 King West, King and Spadina)
• When: Tuesday, September 22nd: 7pm-10pm
• Who: Some of Toronto’s most influential Do-Gooders and social media gurus

To register please go to : http://pibday.eventbrite.com

This hot event will be a fabulous pre-cursor to September 30th’s Pay It Backward Day! We’re looking forward to rallying the community behind such an amazing cause.

Aside from being TONS of fun and inspiring the community to commit small acts of kindness, Pay It Backward Day is a wonderful event because it supports one of Canada’s most amazing institutions: The Hospital for Sick Children…aka SickKids Hospital.

When we first entertained the idea of Pay It Backward Day, we reached out to our Daily Challenge community and asked, ‘We want to support a cause. What should it be?’ - the answer was overwhelmingly SickKids Foundation. And now we know why.

Over the past few months, we’ve come to realize that almost everyone in our community knows someone whose life has been touched by this one-of-a-kind hospital. Here at Daily Challenge, we were fortunate enough to connect with a few people who owe their life to their experience at SickKids. Being able to hear each survivor’s personal journey first-hand was truly inspirational - so much so, that we compiled a short 3-minute video of clips from their interviews to share with you.

The video, a montage of powerful clips and interview excerpts, certainly invites goosebumps and perhaps even a tear or two. But, most importantly, its a fabulous reminder as to why everyone should Pay It Backward for SickKids Hospital on September 30th.

Grab some tissues. Check it out. Tweet it. Facebook it. Blog it. Love it.

HUGE thank you’s go to: Jon Lim, our lovely and super patient videographer, as well as to the band Ohbijou for letting us use their beautiful song, “Wildfires.”

Cheers!

As of today, the Pay It Backward Day promotions are in FULL effect - and we couldn’t be more excited!!! With the help of our amazing sponsors, The Second Cup Ltd and Silk Soy Beverage, plus a host of other media and donation sponsors, we are well on our way to blowing April 4th’s pibTO out of the water.

First of all, starting today, 170+ Second Cup cafes across Ontario are decked out in full-out Pay It Backward Day decor. From posters, to buttons, to challenge cards by the register, Pay It Backward Day is written all over the place! Silk Soy Beverage is doing their part to help us raise awareness, too - as of today, they have developed their own site devoted to this do-gooding intiative. Stop on by and learn more about the vital role that Silk is playing in the Pay It Backward Day movement!

Speaking of websites…you may have noticed that we have launched our own new, upgraded site - but if not, you’ve gotta check it out, stat!  Thanks to our glorious creative team at Jet Cooper and the dedication to excellence of our lead developer @darcy_clarke the site looks amazing and is full of tons of useful information - including maps of participating Second Cup locations, contest  and event information, and much more!

Yep, the Pay It Backward Day ball is officially rolling. If you haven’t stopped by to “Join the Movement” on our new site, I highly suggest you do so! And, in the mean time, keep your eyes peeled for more PIB Day paraphenalia floating about the city. We’ve got lots of tricks up our sleeves - so be sure to check back in with us to learn the latest Pay It Backward Day shenanigans…

Ta ta for now!

Attention ladies and gents! The ‘old hollywood glamour’ themed TwestivalTO in support of MealExchange is THIS SATURDAY(that’s tomorrow)!  Talk about an awesome way to help out a charitable cause,  make some amazing memories, and look like a hottie in the process!

Here’s the lowdown…

For only $20, you get to:

• Cruise aboard one of the Mariposa cruise line’s most spectacular ships (from 8-11:30 pm, woo!)
• Mix and mingle with the finest of Toronto’s social media crowd
• Enjoy free appetizers courtesy of the lovely team at Sprouter
• Jam out and do a lil’ dancing to music spun by local DJs Duarte Da Silva and Aaron Kaufman
• Have a chance to win some sick prizes, including: the new Palm Pre, tickets to an exclusive TIFF event, a subscription to Freshbooks, two brand new uCorders, and a Molson CFL Tailgate Prize Pack!

…But want to know the best part of all?! 100% of the $20 ticket sales go directly to MealExchange, an intiative fighting hunger in Toronto. TwestivalTO hopes to raise $5000 for MealExchange - which would be enough to provide 178 youth leaders and over 6,200 meals to the hungry.

So far, just over 200 tickets have been sold for this epic event. Help TwestivalTO reach its goal of selling 500 tickets by spreading the word! Tweet it. Facebook it. Blog it. Also, get YOUR tickets today! You have until tomorrow at 5pm to score your tix, so chop chop!

Together we can make a huge difference for the fight against hunger in our local TO community. Please visit the TwestivalTO website for further deets and info.

Hope to see ya out there, hollywood style.