New pay it forward site launches

Miresi.org allows users to follow their random acts of kindness as they're paid forward
By: Miresi
 
Jan. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Miresi.org, a new site dedicated to encouraging random acts of kindness, launched December 15, 2013. The site allows members to follow their kind acts as they’re paid forward.

How it works:

First create a free account. (Members can create their own user name and can be completely anonymous.) Download and print cards, cut out, fold, tape and they're ready to use. Each card is coded with a unique number to enable tracking. Go out and do something nice for someone, and leave the card behind with the recipient of your kindness. The card will direct the recipient to miresi.org where they'll enter the card number, be able to see its history, and tell of their own experience. And pay it forward in their own way. Each person associated with a card will be able to see the history of the card and to watch as it moves forward. And all site members can see posts in the feed as they come in.

Miresi also allows members to form groups (schools, churches, communities, etc.) for friends to encourage each other, and follow kindnesses originating in their group.

The idea:

“I came up with the idea of what is now miresi.org on a drive back from Chicago. In the drive through at McDonalds, I paid for my drink but also for the meal for the gentleman in line behind me. The McDonald's employee was excited when I said I'd pay for the next meal and asked if I wanted to relay a message. I said 'just pay it forward'. I watched the man's reaction as he was told that his meal had been paid for. He laughed! So for $4 and some change, it made me happy, and brought some joy to the McDonalds employee and the guy who got a free chicken sandwich. Is there a better way to spend $4? I don't think so. So this got me wondering if he ever paid it forward, and what affect might it have had on him. There could have been a great story there that was never captured.” said Kelle Bovid, Founder of miresi.org.

The team:

“Miresi.org is the result of a collaboration with Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. We were given a team of four students and 11 weeks to create the entire site.” Bovid said.

David K Lange is a tenured faculty member in the School of Computing and Information Systems.  “On average, student teams will work ~1000 hours per project, including coding, training, development of the user's manual, administrative tasks (such as weekly reporting).

The class is CIS463 Information Systems Capstone. All the students are finishing up their Information Systems major at Grand Valley State University, in the School of Computing and Information Systems. Allendale, Michigan.” said Lange

Why "Miresi" -- what does that mean?

Miresi is a Persian word for 'kindness'

The goal:

We want to bring joy to people. “I know how good it feels to be surprised by a random act of kindness and I'd like everyone to experience that. When people see how good it feels to surprise strangers, we're hoping they'll do it more often. We want people to see that their actions have real and lasting effects, and to inspire them to make all their actions positive.

“This isn’t about recognition or bragging about what you’ve done, but encouraging others in a social setting. When people see what others are doing, and that it’s not weird or uncomfortable to do something nice for a stranger, we’re hoping they’ll step a bit out of their comfort zone and make the effort.” Bovid said

(see http://www.miresi.org/blog/ for the story of how I was surprised by a random act of kindness)

Future plans:

“Another team from the University to develop a more complex multipath database to allow better tracking, as well as more GIS integration to enable a more visual representation of how a pay it forward event can influence society.” said Lange

“Currently our tracking allows users to enter an address or zip of the location where the card/kindness was passed. This information is available in the comments thread of each card. Our next step is to create mapping which will give users a visual depiction of the card as the acts of kindness are paid forward.” Bovid said.

In the press:

http://www.koin.com/news/national/kindest-site-helps-pay-it-forward

http://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/new-website-to-help-you-pay-it-forward

http://fox17online.com/2013/12/18/woman-creates-website-to-encourage-track-random-acts-of-kindness/#axzz2nsb9QRUF

Kelle Bovid is a 23 year resident of West Michigan. She spent 4 years in St Louis, MO after graduating with a BSBA from the University of Missouri, Columbia in Marketing & Business Logistics. Since graduating, she’s spent her career in corporate marketing and innovation for various companies, and is currently raising four children. She was born and raised in Kansas City, MO.

Media Contact
Kelle Bovid
***@miresi.org
6165606940
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Source:Miresi
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Tags:Pay It Forward, Kindness, Random Acts
Industry:Lifestyle
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