NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & SportsPassing on $300

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Passing on $300

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By Terry Alexander - email
By Sabrina Squire - bio | email

  • Acts of KindnessActs of Kindness

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 5:31 PM EDT2012-05-15 21:31:52 GMT
    Sometimes it takes a village to pay it forward. I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village to find someone ready on the spot to pass on a $300 Act of Kindness. I was certain my
    I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village and met with Michelle Johnson, a bus driver with Henrico Public Schools.

  • Tuesday, May 8 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-05-08 22:25:37 GMT
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot.
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot to someone in need or reward someone's good deeds.

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 5:34 PM EDT2012-05-01 21:34:51 GMT
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.

  • Tuesday, April 24 2012 6:28 PM EDT2012-04-24 22:28:17 GMT
    RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Sometimes family ties can test us in ways we never imagine. We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while
    We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while also caring for his own critically ill mother. His friend calls him a strong, inspiring role model who deserves an Act of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 17 2012 5:40 PM EDT2012-04-17 21:40:56 GMT
    We're paying it forward in Chesterfield to a woman her neighbor calls "the most compassionate caretaker." Not only is she managing her own family's serious medical issues, she's opened her home to displaced families and pets, and looks after kids around the apartment complex.

  • Tuesday, April 10 2012 5:57 PM EDT2012-04-10 21:57:21 GMT
    A knit hat warmed a local woman's "heart" so much, she tracked down the person who knitted it and nominated her for today's Acts of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 3 2012 8:05 PM EDT2012-04-04 00:05:02 GMT
    We're paying it forward to a woman who takes care of seven hundred children and dozens of adults several days a week. She's such a great asset to her school and everyone in it, she's been voted support staff person of the year several years in a row and today she's our Act of Kindness recipient. 

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 27 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-03-27 22:25:37 GMT
    Lots of us remember an exceptional teacher who made us believe we could succeed at anything. Today a grandmother and cancer survivor is paying it forward to the educator she says has given her confidence that she absolutely will earn the diploma she's been longing for. Their teacher-student bond is this week's "Acts of Kindness."

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Wednesday, March 21 2012 8:10 AM EDT2012-03-21 12:10:09 GMT
    In this week's Acts of Kindness, we pay it forward to someone who opened their heart and their home to one of our viewers.

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 13 2012 5:13 PM EDT2012-03-13 21:13:10 GMT
    Today we're paying it forward to a dynamic young CEO who is passionate about children, education and empowerment. She committed to nurturing future generations of local leaders and today a loyal supporter is making a three hundred dollar Act of Kindness investment.

By Sabrina Squire - bio | email
Posted by Terry Alexander - email

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – We began with a bit of a bumpy ride, but Ivey Richardson agreed to get on board, after the family friend who was scheduled to take us to Tara Thomas's house couldn't get away from work. At least our next surprise is all good. 

Ivey Richardson: "Hi Tara."
Tara Thomas: "Hi sis." 
Ivey Richardson & Sabrina Squire: "We're with Channel 12; you're our act of kindness recipient."
Tara Thomas: "Wow. You can come in. I'm sorry." 

Tara Thomas couldn't believe what her friend Tatiana Price had done. 

"She sent us an email, she said you're an extraordinary person and more than deserving," Sabrina said. 

Tara tells me the past year of so has brought mostly bad news.  

"[I've] faced foreclosure. you name it I went through it, and it's still struggle to keep the lights on, to keep food in the house," Tara said. 

It been unnerving she says, because her family's always defied the odds. 

"We've stuck in there, nine years married; we made it through all the challenging times. A lot of people said we wouldn't make it through," Tara explained. 

Pregnant at 14, Tara married her daughter's father Jamal at 18, he was 20 and eight years ago the couple welcomed a son. 

"Good husband, good father, has always provided for us," she said. 

Tara worked too, studied business, and earned a degree. 

"A big accomplishment, something I did for myself for once," Tara said. 

She always made time for others. 

"I would drop whatever I'm doing to help a stranger. I help these homeless people out here. I would fix dinner and take them a plate," she said. 

She was climbing the corporate ladder and winning performance awards, but the couple's careers collapsed with the recession and health issues. 

"I'm on disability - crohn's disease. It's very painful. It causes you to be depressed, stressed, you have to take lot of medication, it has been so hard," she said. 

But today, she's feeling thankful. 

Ivey Richardson: "I'm gone give you something in your hand that basically shows an Act of Kindness, appreciation really, which is this $300, more than what you might have had in your pocket."
Tara Thomas: "That's true."
Ivey Richardson: "So basically from your friend Tatiana, and I gonna say from your big sister, love and always, affection always, here's this money that you know that you deserve and need, trust me. I love you."
Tara Thomas: "Thank you."
Ivey Richardson: "I'm glad she did that."
Tara Thomas: "Wow." 

Tara says she believes the New Year will bring a new start for her family. 

"When you start the new year off with a blessing like this," she said. 

She's determined to forge ahead with the business project she's been planning awhile a charitable organization. 

"Payitforward.org. I've been working on it for like maybe a year and a half. I lie to you not, but it's just that I like to give back, I really do," Tara said. 

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