Bell Pay It Forward Giver

Zach May, Iowa State University Men’s Golf Ames, Iowa 

Recipient 

Iowa Cancer Connection

The Need

Zach May came a long way – traveling not just from Iowa to Arizona, but journeying across a wide ocean to play golf – and to pay it forward.

Zach, a junior who hails from Christchurch, New Zealand, was part of the Iowa State men’s golf team that rallied to win the inaugural Bell Bank Pay It Forward Collegiate golf tourney in Phoenix – with Zach himself victorious as the tournament’s individual winner.

Uniquely, team and individual champions in the Bell Bank Forward Collegiate received not only the winner’s trophy, but also a check from Bell Bank to pay it forward to someone in need. As he absorbed his first college victory, Zach also began considering his opportunity to give back.

“After thinking about it a little bit, I wanted to do something with child cancer,” he says, recalling how a 17-year-old he knew at his local club in New Zealand had passed away due cancer.

“It was pretty sad,” Zach comments. “So I kind of wanted to do something in his honor.”

The Impact

Zach landed on Children’s Cancer Connection, a nonprofit organization that provides educational resources, support outings, camp programs and other outreach to Iowa families affected by childhood cancer. Thanks to generous fundraising and donations (like Zach’s), Children’s Cancer Connection provides support to more than 850 families each year – at no cost to them. Zach had the opportunity to present $1,000 to the organization, thanks to his tournament win.

“They do a really good job of supporting kids who are going through similar cancer battles” to his friend’s, notes Zach, who says of his Pay It Forward gift, “It’s been a really nice opportunity. It was amazing to see how well-run it was.”

As part of the events surrounding the Bell Bank Pay It Forward Collegiate tourney, Zach and his fellow competitors had the opportunity to meet and hear from Larry Fitzgerald, former pro football star and now a philanthropist and Bell Champion.

“I really enjoyed it … really taking it to heart,” Zach says. “Through golf and playing, you can often get caught up in your own little self, and it’s really nice to have the opportunity to step back and go, how can I help the greater community?”

Through the Pay It Forward program, Bell gives employees money each year to donate to people in need and causes they care about.