West Virginia University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is hosting the third annual Paying it Forward event on Sunday (April 22) from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Shell Building near the WVU Coliseum.

A select number of athletes and coaches will participate in a Meet and Greet with community members and fans. VIP tickets will allow participants to spend 30 minutes with an athlete or coach. Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance by calling 304-780-3904 or by emailing wvupayingitforward@gmail.com. Tickets will also be sold on the day of the event.

The event is co-sponsored by E4p Morgantown, a non-profit organization created to eliminate poverty by creating wealth to build sustainable communities.

The Mountaineer Mascot Jonathan Kimble, WVU majorettes and several other student organizations will also participate in the event.

Prizes will also be awarded to area youth participating in a “Paying it Forward” competition. The competition urges middles school students to respond with their solutions to some of the state’s biggest social challenges. The winning class will receive one-on-one time with WVU athletes, a pizza party and $250 toward a charity of their choice in Monongalia County.

WVU athletes starting the “Paying it Forward” event in 2010 to raise funds toward Haiti relief. This year, 100 percent of proceeds will go toward the development of an irrigation system in Malawi, Africa through E4p, Inc. More than 100 families will benefit from the installation of the system.

For more information, visit http://wvpayingitforward.com.

-WVU-

04/18/12

CONTACT: Natalie Committee, E4p Morgantown
304-780-3904, nataliec@e4poverty.org

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.