L.A based company ALLBRiGHT 1-800-PAINTING was offered the opportunity to take part in ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover Show, and the inspiration and joy that founder Josh Abramson gained through helping a struggling family repaint their residence prompted him to create his own scheme whereby, year after year, he could continue to help those who had struggled the most in the community around him.

This lead to the launch of the Paint-It-Forward programme in 2005. Initially once a year, and now 5 or 6 times every year, members of the local community nominate either a struggling small business or family who are in need of painting but, due to their difficult circumstances, cannot afford it. The ALLBRiGHT team and its customers than vote for the winner, who receives up to $10,000 in painting services carried out as a voluntary act by the employees of ALLBRiGHT. Over the 12 years that the programme has been running, almost $100,000 worth of painting services have been provided.

TV Makeover Show Leads Businessman to Create his own Paint-it-Forward Scheme

A happy recipient of the ALLBRiGHT teams’ kindness. Photo: ALLBRiGHT

Initially the scheme served only Josh’s local area, but due to its success the programme has now expanded across the US and Canada. By reaching out to painting contractors and the media from across these countries, similar programmes have been created and collectively they have provided over $1,000,000 of services.

This scheme is just one of the many that Josh has created, with others including Paint It Pink, where 5% of the cost of painting is donated to the project Circle of Hope, a breast cancer support centre, and Paint It S.M.A.R.T, an internship programme for young adults from single parent families to help students who want to learn a trade, but do not have the means to do so.

TV Makeover Show Leads Businessman to Create his own Paint-it-Forward Scheme

The big reveal after a makeover! Photo: ALLBRiGHT

Through these schemes, Josh has been able to achieve the goal that he set himself on first creating his business 30 years ago – to improve his local community through commercial and residential painting services. Josh has also received the National PDCA Humanitarian Award in 2013 and 2015 for his work.

He says about the programme, ‘Paint It Forward…brings us all together for a common cause. It’s the only time we as a company work together on one project at the same time (and some team members bring other family members too). We all have a great time and at the same time encouraging someone in our community that others care about their wellbeing and happiness. You see it’s not all about the painting. It’s about the opportunity we get everyday to make someone happy.’

For more information on the programme, have a look at their website and watch their video on the scheme here.

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Kirsten Ehrlich is currently studying archaeology at UCL, but is interested in pursuing a career in journalism after gaining her degree.

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