By Nikki Rajala

The Visitor

For the fourth year in a row, The Visitor is sponsoring a “Pay it Forward for Lent” contest — three winners will receive starter money, “grow” it and give away the proceeds to a charity they choose, all during the 40 days of Lent.

In past years, some groups in their application only described the charity they were passionate about and why they hoped to support the charity. That’s only half the process — this contest asks participants to expand the grant money, as much as they can.

In 300 words or less, readers should explain their potential course of action:

• How they would grow a seed gift of $100. Participants should share detailed plans that intentionally increase that amount. Unique concepts and creative ways to multiply the grant especially interest us. (We count on all projects being completed by Easter Sunday.)

• How they would use that increased sum to assist a charity they choose.

We must receive the entries by Tuesday, Feb. 7. Please include your name, address, parish, a daytime telephone number and email address. Participants can submit their entry one of three ways.

• Email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , with “Pay it Forward” and the parish in the subject line.

• Mail to “Pay it Forward for Lent,” The Visitor, P.O. Box 1068, St. Cloud, MN 56302.

• Deliver to the Pastoral Center at 305 N 7th Ave., Suite 206, St. Cloud.

Questions? Call Nikki at The Visitor at 320-258-7622 or 320-251-3022.

Last year’s success

In 2011, two generous donors helped “pay it forward” even before contest began — they helped The Visitor fund six projects instead of the original three. From $600, groups multiplied it nearly 13 times, to $7,643. Over all three years, charities have garnered $35,768 from Pay it Forward projects.

How did they increase the grants? Groups organized a talent show and buffet dinner, soup-and-bread meals, a MADD Hatter Tea Party silent auction and bake/craft sale, a teen lock-in with a Ten Commandments theme and by sewing nänas, tiny soft satin-edged blankets. St. Katharine Drexel School planned different service projects, one for each of the corporal works of mercy. Read about them in the “My Thoughts” section in the Feb. 3 issue.

The Pay it Forward proceeds went to victims of the Wadena and Bluffton tornados of June 2010, the St. Joseph Catholic Worker house, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Foley’s St. John Parish youth group trip to Jamaica, pro-life billboards on Interstate 94, New Beginnings, Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf and Quiet Oaks Hospice House.

The Visitor will identify the winning projects in the Feb. 17 issue. Starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and during the 40 days of Lent, the projects’ participants will grow their $100 seed gift and donate the proceeds. We’ll report the final results in the April 13 issue.