How would it make you feel if you were asked to come up with a way that could change the world through one small act of yours? What idea for action would you come up with? This was the assignment and the challenge put to a 12-year-old schoolboy in Las Vegas, Nevada named Trevor McKinney a few years ago. Trevor's incredible response, and his story, has since gone on to create a world-wide phenomenon known as "Pay It Forward".
From Trevor's idea, in September 2000, The Pay It Forward Foundation sprang forth to let others know that they can change the world ..... one person, and one small act, at a time.
Synopsis for the movie....
A 12-year-old schoolboy named Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment) is given a class project to complete by his social studies teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey). His task is to come up with a plan that will change the world through direct action. On his way home from school later that day, Trevor notices a homeless man, Jerry (James Caviezel) and decides to make a difference in Jerry's life. Trevor then comes up with the plan to "pay it forward" by doing a good deed for three people who must in turn each do good deeds for three other people. Trevor's plan is to help Jerry by feeding and housing him so he can "get on his feet."
The next morning, Trevor's mother, Arlene McKinney (Helen Hunt), a single mother recovering from alcoholism, becomes angry with Trevor after finding Jerry in their house. She then accuses and confronts the school teacher, Eugene at the school about the reason Trevor has allowed Jerry into their home.
Later that night back at their home, Trevor confronts his mother about her alcoholism, and in a fit of anger she slaps him across the face. Trevor runs away from home, and Arlene asks Eugene to help her find him. They find Trevor at a bus station, about to be molested. Trevor and Arlene embrace in relief after Arlene apologizes profusely.
Meanwhile, Chris (Jay Mohr), a journalist, is trying to find out why a total stranger gave him a brand new Jaguar S-Type car after Chris' old 1965 Ford Mustang was damaged in a car accident. The stranger's only explanation is that he is simply "paying it forward". When Chris asks him for more information, the man explains that, when he recently visited a hospital while his daughter was suffering an asthma attack, a gang member suffering from a stab wound actually forced the doctors to look at the man's daughter before she collapsed.
The film then focuses back on Trevor and his apparently unsuccessful attempt to help Jerry, the homeless man. Jerry then decides to help his school teacher Eugene by setting him up with Arlene, Trevor's own mother.
At around this point, Jerry the homeless man, who has moved on to another city, discovers a woman about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge; even when she throws her purse at him and yells at him to get away, Jerry simply talks gently to her, encouraging her to come down and talk to him about her problems, which she does.
Meanwhile, Chris the journalist discovers the gang member who helped the man's daughter, who reveals that he was introduced to 'pay it forward' when he was helped by someone else.
Chris finally identifies Trevor as the originator of "pay it forward," and conducts a recorded interview at the school. Trevor explains his hopes for the concept, but voices his concerns that people may be too afraid to change their own lives in order to make the whole world a better place.
Later in the film shouts and scuffling outside the classroom are heard. Trevor has come to the defence of a friend who is being attacked by bullies, and is trying to fight them off, although they are older and bigger. As Eugene and Arlene run down to stop the fight, the main bully who is a gangster-like boy impulsively pulls out a knife. Trevor is pushed onto the boy with the knife and is thus inadvertently stabbed in the abdomen. Trevor is rushed to hospital, where he dies from the stabbing.
Terribly distraught, Arlene and Eugene are later watching a television news report about "pay it forward" and Trevor's death, and learn that "Pay It Forward" has grown nationwide. Venturing outside, they see hundreds of people gathering in a vigil to pay their respects to Trevor, with yet more people arriving in a stream of vehicles visible in the distance as the movie ends.
To watch the movie trailer please click here
Although Trevor did die while he was trying to help someone else, within his short life and as a result of his idea to "pay it forward" many millions of other lives have been positive affected.
One small act can make a massive difference...