ABOUT US

The Inspiration Behind the Foundation

On June 24, 2002, at the age of 6, Jackson Baldwin was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. From the beginning the Baldwins knew they had a long, hard battle ahead of them and that Jackson's prognosis was grim. The next four years of their lives were filled with countless treasured moments as well as the pain and uncertainty that go along with battling cancer. Despite his long struggle Jackson always kept his hope and faith alive and helped others to do so as well.

People who new and loved Jackson wanted to offer support to his family during this crisis in their lives and so in just two months this caring group of friends and family were able to put together an incredible fundraiser in his honor. The unbelievable outpouring of community support made this auction a huge success and tremendously helped ease the financial burden the family faced.

In May 2006, while planning Jackson's 10th birthday party, the Baldwins decided to have a big party to thank everyone for the years of support they had received.  Jackson and his mom came up with a plan that instead of gifts for Jackson, people at the party could bring a monetary donation to help out a little boy in the Lewis-Clark Valley who was preparing for a bone marrow transplant. Jackson felt this was a perfect way to pass along some of the love and generosity he had always experienced from his community. Sadly, Jackson passed away just one day before the party was scheduled to occur. The family considered canceling the event but Jackson had been so excited about the idea of having a party to "pay it forward" that the celebration was
held as planned and raised nearly $6,000 for the ill little boy. Thus was the idea of the Jackson's Pay it Forward Foundation born. The foundation hopes to continue Jackson's legacy of caring by providing support to ill children from the community that gave so much to him though out his short life.