PayItForward LIVE is a weekly livestream that benefits local communities by sharing ways to support small businesses.
Verizon PayItForward LIVE connects big names to small businesses, offering streaming entertainment to those at home and financial support to those small businesses in need. Every Tuesday and Thursday, tune-in to Verizon PayitForwardLIVE on Verizon’s Twitter, Yahoo or Twitch pages to view that night’s performance. To support small businesses, use the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE – and for each mention, Verizon will donate additional money to LISC.org to support small businesses, up to $2.5 million.
05/20 Update: Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live continues with performance from Usher featuring Jermaine Dupri and B.Cox on Thursday, May 21
Usher, joined by Jermaine Dupri and B.Cox, will perform on Pay It Forward Live, Verizon’s weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, May 21.
Additionally, Usher’s song “Will Work for Love” was featured in a recent public service announcement in calling for support for small businesses. The public service announcement, which Usher also narrated, can be seen here: https://youtu.be/f57LpCkyjGY
Viewers can watch the performance live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios channel 501 and 604, Yahoo Finance on Samsung TV Plus on channel 1017, The Roku Channel, AXS TV, FOX NOW and Ovation TV or listen on iHeart and SiriusXM.
“I’m proud to join Verizon’s efforts to rally around small businesses across the country,” said Usher.” “I hope to bring further attention to the importance of supporting small businesses by taking part in a public service announcement and an upcoming performance on Pay It Forward Live. I’m looking forward to performing and reminding people how important it is to support small businesses and the people who work so hard to make them possible.”
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, buying a gift card to be used when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. More information can be found at Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive.
Challenging himself creatively and testing musical boundaries are characteristics that have defined Usher’s career since he was first discovered twenty years ago on Star Search. Usher has been ranked by the Recording Industry Assn. of America as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, having sold over 65 million albums worldwide. He has won numerous awards including 8 Grammy Awards and was named the #1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album “Confessions” being ranked as the top solo album of the 2000s decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 #1 hits (all as a lead artist) and 18 Hot 100 top-10 singles. Realizing that with success comes responsibility. Usher has also proven to be a major philanthropic force. Founded in 1999, his New Look Foundation empowers youth from impoverished communities to become leaders. In recognition of his accomplishments, Usher has been honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Trumpet Foundation, Do Something, the NAACP, and as the 2010 Ford Freedom Award Scholar.
05/18 Update: Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live continues small business support with Dignitas’ ViolentPanda and NFL tight end George Kittle playing Rocket League
Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live, the weekly live-streamed entertainment series in support of small business affected by COVID-19, will pair Dignitas’ two-time Rocket League World Champion, ViolentPanda and Dignitas’ Rocket League coach Virge to play alongside NFL’s two-time Pro Bowler George Kittle in Rocket League on Tuesday, May 19. The event will stream live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m PT on Twitter @Verizon, @ViolentPandaRL on Twitch, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
The players will team up to play Rocket League games as they share and support their favorite local businesses, engage with fans, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to visit Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive to do what they can to support local businesses by shopping online, buying a gift card or ordering a meal.
“It can be overwhelming to think about ways to help communities in need right now, but helping small businesses is as easy as ordering a meal or shopping online” said George Kittle. “I’m looking forward to joining Verizon for Pay It Forward Live to do my part to share that message and to shout out some of my own favorite businesses.”
“Local businesses are so important to communities and now more than ever they need our support,” said ViolentPanda. “Being able to join forces with Pay It Forward Live to rally the gaming community to help small businesses is something I’m thankful to be able to do.”
Since March, consumers have been spending more time indoors and gaming has increased as much as 75% on Verizon networks. As a result Verizon announced this month an extension to the More at Home On Us program offering customers more entertaining ways to virtually connect with others or play popular games and platforms like Pokémon GO, Roblox and Sago Mini World. Customers can visit verizon.com/MoreatHome to receive the gaming enhancements or enroll in select learning services, courtesy of Verizon. Enrollment options are also available in the My Verizon or My Fios apps available for iOS and Android.
About Dignitas
Since its formation in 2003, Dignitas (DIG) has established itself as one of the most successful esports organizations in the world, amassing 18 World Championships across multiple game titles. In September 2016, DIG was acquired by the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), a diverse, global portfolio of sports and entertainment franchises and properties that includes the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL) and more. In June 2019, DIG merged with Fertitta Entertainment’s League of Legends LCS franchise. DIG is the competitive team vertical within New Meta Entertainment, a digital sports and entertainment company backed by an investor group that includes HBSE, Fertitta Entertainment, Susquehanna International Group and Delaware North. DIG currently fields seven teams in six of esports’ largest and most popular games: League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (men’s and women’s teams), VALORANT (women’s team), Super Smash Bros., Rocket League, and Clash Royale. With player content studios and wellness facilities in New York City and Los Angeles, and infrastructure in Europe and China, DIG is the global leader dedicated to esports athletes.
05/13 Update: Chance the Rapper to perform on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live on Thursday, May 14 to benefit small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis
Chance the Rapper will perform on Pay It Forward Live, Verizon’s weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, May 14. Viewers can watch the performance live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios channel 501 and 604, Yahoo Finance on Samsung TV Plus on channel 1017, The Roku Channel, AXS TV, FOX NOW and Ovation TV or listen on iHeart and SiriusXM.
“I am excited to perform for Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live series which benefits local small businesses, who need our support due to the drastic slowdown in our economy from the global pandemic. As a Chicago native, I would like to especially highlight these black-owned businesses, who are the soul and backbone of our community: Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles, Mikkey’s Retro Grill Stony Island, Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken, and Fat Tiger Workshop, just to name a few. It’s more than important than ever that we all come together to get through this tough time and help continue to help support small businesses in our local communities,” said Chance the Rapper.
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, buying a gift card to be used when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. More information can be found at Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive.
Chance the Rapper has built a multi-faceted career on his own terms, redefining what it means to be an independent artist. Born and raised in Chicago, Chance made history when he became the first artist to win a Grammy for a streaming-only mixtape—collecting a trio of statues for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album. His work has attracted an eclectic mix of collaborators, including Kanye West, Randy Newman, Lil Wayne, Bon Iver, Childish Gambino, Justin Bieber, Cardi B, Shawn Mendes, Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran and John Legend. With several international tours under his belt, Chance became a festival headliner—closing out Governor’s Ball and Lollapalooza among others. His expanding career also includes film and television credits, such as executive producing and serving as a judge on Netflix’s hip-hop talent contest “Rhythm+Flow” and most recently starring and executive producing in Quibi’s relaunch of the iconic MTV show “Punk’d.” In 2019, Chance joined an elite club by becoming one of the few celebrities to both host and perform on “Saturday Night Live.” Called “an outstanding role model” by President Barack Obama, Chance’s passion for music and family extends to his commitment to giving back. Coming from a long line of activists and community organizers, Chance was raised with a deep faith and a strong sense of purpose. His nonprofit SocialWorks aims to inspire and empower youth through arts, education and civic engagement.
05/08 Update: 14 Team Penske Drivers and motorsports reporter Jamie Little team up on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live
Verizon’s weekly live-streamed entertainment series Pay It Forward Live, continues on Tuesday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m PT with an iRacing simulation event when all 14 Team Penske drivers, representing five different racing series including NASCAR and INDYCAR, will race from their homes on the virtual tracks.
The event, in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, will stream on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
Team Penske drivers include NASCAR competitors Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Matt DiBenedetto and Austin Cindric; INDYCAR drivers Will Power, Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden; IMSA competitors Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ricky Taylor and Dane Cameron and Supercar drivers Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin. The livestream will be hosted by NASCAR and FOX reporter Jamie Little.
The 14 Team Penske drivers will participate in multiple races as they share and support their favorite local businesses, engage with fans, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to visit Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive to do what they can to support local businesses by shopping online, buying a gift card or ordering a meal. For every use of the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE, Verizon will donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses. Last week Verizon announced an additional $2.5 million commitment to support small businesses, bringing the total commitment to up to $7.5 million.
“iRacing has been one of the best ways to stay connected to my teammates and all of our fans during the quarantine,” said INDYCAR driver Will Power. “Being able to rally the group to partner with Verizon and the Verizon’s Pay it Forward LIVE initiative to help support small businesses is something I know we’re all happy we can do.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people across the globe,” said Acura Team Penske driver and fan-favorite INDYCAR competitor Helio Castroneves. “Small businesses everywhere – from our hometowns to the cities where we compete – are being majorly impacted and I’m glad we can join forces with Verizon to do our part to help to make sure they can all reopen.”
Since March, consumers have been spending more time indoors and gaming has increased as much as 75% on Verizon networks. As a result, last week Verizon announced an extension to the More at Home On Us program offering customers more entertaining ways to virtually connect with others or play popular games and platforms like Pokémon GO, Roblox and Sago Mini World. Customers can visit verizon.com/MoreatHome to receive the gaming enhancements or enroll in select learning services, courtesy of Verizon. Enrollment options are also available in the My Verizon or My Fios apps available for iOS and Android.
About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 540 major race wins, over 620 pole positions and 37 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 54-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. Team Penske currently competes in the IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team also races in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, in a partnership with Dick Johnson Racing, as DJR Team Penske. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.
05/05 Update: Joe Buck, Oliver Hudson and FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill and FaZe Sway team up on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live
Verizon’s weekly live streamed entertainment series Pay It Forward Live, continues on Tuesday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m PT when FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill and FaZe Sway battle it out in Fortnite with commentary by sportscaster Joe Buck and special guest actor and fellow “Daddy Issues” podcast partner, Oliver Hudson. The event, in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, will stream on Twitter @Verizon, Nate Hill’s Twitch, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
The group will surprise some of their favorite local businesses, engage with fans, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to visit Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive to do what they can to support local businesses by shopping online, buying a gift card or ordering a meal. For every use of the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE, Verizon will donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses. Last week Verizon announced an additional $2.5 million commitment to support small businesses, bringing the total commitment to up to $7.5 million.
“I’m excited to join Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live in support of small businesses,” says FaZe Sway. “COVID-19 has been really difficult on many of us, and I am grateful we have an opportunity to raise money and support our communities while doing what we love to do, playing Fortnite.”
About FaZe Clan:
Since its inception in 2010, FaZe Clan has established itself as the world’s most prominent and influential gaming organization known for its disruptive original content and hyper-engaged global fanbase of 215 million combined across all social platforms. FaZe Clan holds an unrivaled position at the epicenter of gaming, sports, culture and entertainment, driving how the next generation consumes content, plays and shops. Their roster of 85 influential personalities consists of world-class gamers, engaging content creators and a mix of talent beyond the world of gaming, including NBA star Ben Simmons, NFL star Juju Smith-Schuster and global superstar artists Offset and Lil Yachty. The organization’s unmatched esports division includes seven competitive teams in Fortnite, FIFA, PUBG, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty League (Atlanta FaZe) and CS:GO with dozens of world championship trophies among them. In addition, FaZe Clan has become a sought-after fashion and lifestyle brand through an inspired apparel line and limited-edition collaborations with partners including Champion, NFL, Manchester City FC, Lyrical Lemonade, Kappa, CLOT, LA Kings and more. Follow us @FaZeClan and @FaZeApparel.
04/29 Update: Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live continues with performance from Janelle Monáe on Thursday, April 30
WHAT:
Janelle Monáe will perform on Pay It Forward Live, Verizon’s weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, April 30.
Viewers can watch the performance live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios Channel 501 and 604, Yahoo Finance on Samsung TV Plus on channel 1017, The Roku Channel, AXS TV, FOX NOW or listen on iHeart and SiriusXM.
“I am excited to perform for Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live series which benefits small businesses,” said Janelle Monáe. “Our local coffee shops, markets, book stores, nail salons and restaurants are the souls of our communities. We need to make sure we are surrounding all small businesses – especially black and LGBTQ owned – with support and love so that they can open their doors again one day soon.”
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, buying a gift card to be used when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. Verizon will donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses for each use of the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE.
WHO:
Janelle Monáe is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. An 8-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, performer, activist, and fashion icon, she is known worldwide for her inimitable style and visionary sound, which celebrates the spectrum of identity. As an actor, upcoming this year, Janelle will star in the second season of Amazon’s critically acclaimed series, HOMECOMING on May 22 and headline the upcoming dramatic thriller ANTEBELLUM from the acclaimed writing and directing team, Gerard Bush + Christopher Renz. As a humanitarian, Janelle currently serves as co-chair for When We All Vote and her Fem the Future initiative empowers female filmmakers and inspires not only fellow creatives, but society as a whole.
WHEN:
Thursday, April 30
8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT
WHERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN:
Viewers can watch the performance live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios Channel 501 and 604, Yahoo Finance on Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, AXS TV, FOX NOW or listen on iHeart and SiriusXM. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
MORE INFO:
Pay It Forward Live launched on March 26 with an intimate, at-home performance with Dave Matthews. Previous events have included Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, Alicia Keys, Luke Bryan, Ryan Tedder, Aisha Tyler, FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill, Cizzorz, Marshmello and Pokimane. Additional partners will be announced soon.
More information can be found at Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive.
04/28 Update: Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live continues with Actress Aisha Tyler and FaZe Clan gaming collective members FaZe Adapt, FaZe Jarvis and FaZe Teeqo
Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live, the weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, continues on Tuesday, April 28 when actress Aisha Tyler hosts members of the most prominent and influential gaming collective FaZe Clan: FaZe Adapt, FaZe Jarvis and FaZe Teeqo as they game live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, @Teeqo on Twitch, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
The group will surprise some of their favorite local businesses, engage with viewers, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, making a purchase in advance of businesses reopening or ordering a meal. Verizon will also donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses when the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE is used.
“It’s so important that we continue to focus on the most vulnerable among us as we all stay #saferathome,” said Aisha Tyler. “We can get through this together, support the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities, and have fun doing it. These are unprecedented times, and I’m glad that Verizon is taking the lead in helping to keep us all connected.”
“Living at the FaZe House in LA, we all rely so heavily on the small businesses around us, especially local restaurants,” says FaZe Teeqo. “It’s important to us to help keep these businesses alive while we’re all staying Safer At Home. We are proud FaZe Clan has been teaming up with Verizon on their Pay It Forward gaming series so we can support our communities and give back while doing what we love.”
About Aisha Tyler
Aisha Tyler is an award-winning director, actor, comedian, bestselling author, podcaster and activist. She voices superspy Lana Kane on F/X’s Emmy-winning hit animated comedy Archer, the winner of four back-to-back Television Critics’ Choice Awards. She was a series regular on the hit CBS show “Criminal Minds,” which aired its series finale in February 2020, and for which she also directed two episodes. Aisha continues to host the CW’s hit improv show, Whose Line Is It Anyway, and is recording a main character voice for the upcoming Disney+ series Monsters at Work, based on the popular film Monsters, Inc. In addition, Aisha is an entrepreneur, launching a line of premium, bottled cocktails she personally created and developed, called Courage+Stone, in 2019. An avid gamer and passionate advocate (and occasional adversary) of the gaming community, Aisha’s voice can be heard in the video games Halo:Reach; Gears of War 3, and Watch Dogs.
About FaZe Clan:
Since its inception in 2010, FaZe Clan has established itself as the world’s most prominent and influential gaming organization known for its disruptive original content and hyper-engaged global fanbase of 215 million combined across all social platforms. FaZe Clan holds an unrivaled position at the epicenter of gaming, sports, culture and entertainment, driving how the next generation consumes content, plays and shops. Their roster of 85 influential personalities consists of world-class gamers, engaging content creators and a mix of talent beyond the world of gaming, including NBA star Ben Simmons, NFL star Juju Smith-Schuster and global superstar artists Offset and Lil Yachty. The organization’s unmatched esports division includes seven competitive teams in Fortnite, FIFA, PUBG, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty League (Atlanta FaZe) and CS:GO with dozens of world championship trophies among them. In addition, FaZe Clan has become a sought-after fashion and lifestyle brand through an inspired apparel line and limited-edition collaborations with partners including Champion, NFL, Manchester City FC, Lyrical Lemonade, Kappa, CLOT, LA Kings and more. Follow us @FaZeClan and @FaZeApparel.
04/22 Update: Billie Eilish and FINNEAS to perform on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live on Wednesday, April 22 to benefit small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis
GRAMMY Award winning siblings Billie Eilish and FINNEAS will be performing on a special Earth Day Edition of Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live, the weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19. The intimate live concert from their home will stream live on April 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios Channel 501 and 604, AXS TV, FOX NOW, iHeart and SiriusXM.
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, buying a gift card to be used when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. Verizon will donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses for each use of the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE.
“Small businesses are a crucial part of our community, and it is so important that we support them during this crisis,” said Billie Eilish. “I am honored to be able to call attention to these local businesses, who have made an impact on my life, and are trying to make the world a better place”
Throughout the livestream, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS will be highlighting various small businesses near and dear to them, as well as participating Support + Feed plant-based restaurants in New York City and Los Angeles. Support + Feed, was launched by their Mother, Maggie Baird and aims to help support local restaurants, and in turn feed those in need and on the front lines. By encouraging the community to gift meals via participating restaurants, Support + Feed will help facilitate CDC regulated, coordinated food deliveries to vetted organizations, hospitals, first responders, senior centers, homeless shelters, and women’s centers across Los Angeles and New York City. For more information, go to: www.supportandfeed.com
April 22 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a significant day for Verizon whose responsible business mission includes climate protection, with a goal to be carbon neutral in its operations by 2035. The company, which launched its formal sustainability program in 2009, also has goals to recycle 5 million pounds of e-waste by 2022, source 50 percent of our total electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and to plant 10 million trees by 2030.
About Billie Eilish
Five-time GRAMMY Award winning Billie Eilish released her DOUBLE PLATINUM debut album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? in March 2019. The Album Of The Year full-length debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S as well as 17 additional countries around the world upon release. She scored her first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and at Top 40 radio with Song and Record of the Year “bad guy.” WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? was the highest selling debut album of 2019 and biggest North American debut of the decade (male, female or group), hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts for an additional 2 non-consecutive weeks since its release. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? was written, produced and recorded entirely by Billie Eilish and fellow multi-GRAMMY Award winning brother FINNEAS in their childhood home of Highland Park, Los Angeles.
About FINNEAS
Earlier this year, 22-year-old Los Angeles-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist FINNEAS won 5 GRAMMY Awards, including the prestigious Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, as well as Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year with his sister Billie Eilish for her groundbreaking No. 1 debut album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? and hit single ‘bad guy.’ FINNEAS is officially one of the youngest producers ever to be nominated in the Producer Of The Year category and the youngest in GRAMMY Award history to be nominated on his own, without a collaborator —a distinction previously held by Lauryn Hill who was 23 at the time. He is also responsible for writing and producing for some of the biggest artists around, including Camila Cabello (“Used To This” and “First Man”), Selena Gomez (“Lose You To Love Me”), Tove Lo (“Bikini Porn,” + “Passion and Pain Taste The Same When I’m Weak”), “Moral Of The Story” by Ashe, JP Saxe + Julia Michael’s latest collaboration, “If The World Was Ending,” Halsey ( “I Hate Everybody”) and more. FINNEAS recently released his debut EP, Blood Harmony.
04/21 Update: Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live continues with Lilly Singh and gamers from DIG Fe on Tuesday, April 21
Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live, the weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, continues on Tuesday when professional esports athlete Emmalee “EMUHLEET” Garrido and other members of Dignitas’s all-female gaming team DIG Fe will stream Riot Games’ VALORANT with Lilly Singh. The action will start at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT and stream live on Twitter @Verizon, EMUHLEET’s Twitch, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, Fios Channel 501, YouTube, and XBOX. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
In addition to streaming VALORANT, the duo will share some of their favorite local businesses, engage with viewers, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences. Viewers are encouraged to pledge their support for small businesses by shopping online, buying a gift card or ordering a meal. In addition, Verizon will donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses when the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE is used.
“I’m teaming up with Verizon as part of their Pay It Forward Live series where they are supporting small businesses,” says Lilly Singh. “The good news is that my role is watching and cheering on EMUHLEET, rather than completely embarrassing myself in front of the Internet trying to play VALORANT. Even better news? Racking up some wins for small business owners, who need all of our support right now.”
“Supporting local communities has always been at the heart of my dual career paths – gaming and nursing,” said EMUHLEET. “From spearheading gaming tournaments that support amateur players and inspire female gamers to working as a mental health nurse, taking care of our communities is my lifelong passion. It’s my honor to continue driving support for local business when this world needs it the most and appreciate being able to do so in collaboration with Verizon’s Pay it Forward Live.”
Lilly Singh is a multi-faceted entertainer, actress, producer, writer and creator. She is the host of “A Little Late with Lilly Singh,” her NBC late-night talk show that premiered on September 16, making her the only woman to currently host a late-night talk show on a Big 4 network. She is also an executive producer as part of her company, Unicorn Island Productions.
A leading force in the digital world, she has amassed a global audience of millions across her social media channels, where she writes, produces and stars in comedic and inspirational videos. She was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment list, Fast Company’s Most Creative People and TIME named her one of the most influential people on the internet.
In 2017, UNICEF appointed Lilly as one of their Goodwill Ambassadors. As a prominent voice and activist for women’s rights and girls’ access to education, Singh created her #GirlLove initiative to inspire positivity among women in order to better support each other’s voices and encourage upward mobility.
Emmalee “EMUHLEET” Garrido is the founder and in-game leader for one of the world’s most successful female esports team – Dignitas. Founded as Team Karma in 2014, the group later became professional gamers when they signed with Selfless Gaming before being recruited to Dignitas, one of the world’s most storied esports brands, owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. EMUHLEET’s team has achieved numerous top three placings and several gold medals including back-to-back women’s World Championships at the prestigious Intel Challenge at IEM Katowice 2018 and 2019. Dignitas also secured back-to-back championships at the Girl Gamer Festival in 2017 and 2018. EMUHLEET is a partnered Twitch streamer, a full-time nurse focusing on mental health, and a frequent panelist at various industry conferences while actively participating in charitable events. EMUHLEET aspires to one day combine her love for gaming with her desire to care for and rehabilitate people.
04/15 Update: Luke Bryan to perform on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live on Thursday, April 16
Luke Bryan will perform on Pay It Forward Live, Verizon’s weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, April 16. Viewers can watch the performance live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios Channel 501, AXS TV, FOX NOW or listen on iHeart and SiriusXM. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, buying a gift card to be used when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. Verizon will also donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses when the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE is used.
“When I heard about the Pay It Forward program Verizon was doing to support local small businesses I loved the idea of doing my part to help raise awareness for it, said Luke Bryan. “These are the people who wake up every day living out their dreams and passions and bringing them into our communities. Let’s all continue to do right, support each other and…Pay It Forward.”
Pay It Forward Live launched on March 26 with an intimate, at-home performance with Dave Matthews. Previous performers and partners also include Alicia Keys, Ryan Tedder, FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill and Cizzorz, Marshmello, Pokimane, Hunter Pence and Damonte. Additional partners will be announced soon.
More information can be found at Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive.
About Luke Bryan
Luke was named as the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award last year for CRASH MY PARTY and wrapped the last ten years as the Most Heard Artist of the Decade by Country Aircheck. Since his debut in 2009, Luke has released 24 #1 hits and has more RIAA certified digital singles than any other country artist with 54 million. Luke has also tallied up seven Billion streams, 12 million albums sold, plus four Platinum albums, two 4x-Platinum albums, seven RIAA certified albums, 22 Platinum singles and 12 Multi-Platinum singles.
Luke’s headline concert tours have played for over one million fans every year for the last six years with four of those reaching 1.5 million. In total Luke has performed for nearly 12 million fans in the last ten years with seven headline tours including 36 stadium concerts, 11 Farm Tours, six years of Spring Break shows and six sold-out Crash My Playa concert events. He was recognized as a CMT Artist of the Year six consecutive times, was twice named the Entertainer of the Year by BOTH the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association and was honored as a NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year. In total Luke has won over 40 music awards including six ACM awards, six CMT Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, two CMA awards, an iHeart and a Teen Choice award and more.
On July 10 Luke will launch his PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE Tour and he’ll release his seventh studio album, BORN HERE LIVE HERE DIE HERE on August 7.
04/13 Update: Professional baseball player Hunter Pence and Dignitas esports athlete Damonte team up on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live in support of small businesses
Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live, the weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, continues on Tuesday, April 14 when professional baseball player Hunter Pence and esports organization Dignitas’ Tanner Damonte team up to play League of Legends at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Damonte’s Twitch, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream.
The duo will not only play, but also surprise some of their favorite local businesses, engage with viewers, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, making a purchase in advance of businesses reopening or ordering a meal. Verizon will also donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses when the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE is used.
“I am thankful and honored for the opportunity to partner with Verizon for their Pay It Forward initiative,” says Hunter Pence. “This is a great movement to help support small businesses in a time of need. Working together means a lot to me and it’s important to come together to make a positive impact on our community and relationships during this crisis.”
“After growing up in the Bay Area all my life, I am so excited to play League of Legends with the Bay Area’s very own Hunter Pence,” says Dignitas’s Damonte. “I look forward to teaching him how I train and compete as a professional esports athlete and I’m proud to use this as an opportunity to pay it forward in support of small businesses.”
Hunter Pence is a two-time World Series Champion and four-time All-Star outfielder on the San Francisco Giants. Hunter is known on the field for his positivity and exemplary leadership, as well as his unconventional mechanics and full-throttle energy. Off the field, he’s recognized for his love of gaming and quality coffee. He combined his passions to start his own small business, Coral Sword, a gaming cafe that he and his wife opened in his hometown of Houston, TX.
Tanner “Damonte” Damonte is a professional League of Legends player for Dignitas. Damonte is one of the game’s most successful North American players in his role as Mid Laner. In 2019, Damonte became part of Dignitas when the esports organization partnered with Clutch Gaming in Dignitas’ highly anticipated return to the LCS, the most watched esports league in the world and third most watched sports league for millennials in North America. Damonte’s charismatic personality and popular “Tanner Time” catch phrase earned him global fame. In 2019, Damonte led his team Clutch Gaming to the League of Legends World Championships, an elite event with millions of viewers featuring the World’s sixteen best teams.
4/9 Update: Alicia Keys to perform on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live on Thursday, April 9
Fifteen-time Grammy winner and global music icon Alicia Keys will perform on Pay It Forward Live, Verizon’s weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, April 9. The performance will stream live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo and Fios Channel 501. The event will also be available on these platforms for one week following the live stream.
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, buying a gift card to be used when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. Verizon will also donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses when the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE is used.
Verizon is also giving consumers as many ways to support small businesses as possible, including partnering with PayPal and Square to give Pay It Forward Live viewers the ability to support small businesses within the live streams.
Pay It Forward Live launched on March 26 with an intimate, at-home performance with Dave Matthews. Previous performers and partners also include FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill, Cizzorz, Pokimane, Marshmello and Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic. Additional artists and partners will be announced soon.
More information can be found at Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive.
4/6 Update: Pokimane and FaZe Clan’s Cizzorz face off on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live in support of small businesses
Verizon continues Pay It Forward Live, the weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, with its second gaming event on Tuesday, April 7. Pokimane and FaZe Clan powerhouse Cizzorz will go head to head in Fortnite at 8:00 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Twitch, Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on these platforms for one week following the live stream.
“I am honored to be included in the second #PayItForwardLIVE gaming event with Verizon,” said FaZe Clan’s Cizzorz. “Small businesses are such an important part of my life and they are struggling right now due to the COVID crisis. I want to bring the FaZe Clan community and my voice to support this important initiative.”
“I am proud to be a part of #PayItForwardLIVE with Verizon in support of their important initiative to help small businesses,” said Pokimane. “I’m so fortunate to still be able to do my job but others aren’t as lucky and I hope that our efforts can help some of those in need through this crisis.”
The duo will not only play, but also surprise some of their favorite local businesses, engage with viewers, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to do what they can to support local businesses in their own communities by shopping online, making a purchase in advance for when businesses reopen or ordering a meal. Verizon will also donate $10, up to $2.5 million, to support small businesses when the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE is used.
4/2 Update: Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic to perform on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live Tonight
Ryan Tedder, GrammyⓇ winning songwriter, producer and lead singer of the multi-platinum selling band OneRepublic, will perform on Pay It Forward Live, Verizon’s weekly streaming entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, April 2. The performance, which will take place in his home, will stream live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo and Fios Channel 501.
“As we’re all feeling right now, small businesses are a huge part of our daily lives,” said Ryan Tedder. “I’m grateful that I am able to take part in an initiative to help lessen the impact of this crisis.”
Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to tag their favorite local businesses and do what they can to support them – shop online, make a purchase in advance for when the crisis is over and the businesses reopen, or order a meal. Verizon will also donate $10 to support small businesses, up to $2.5 million, when the hashtag #PayItForwardLive is used.
Verizon is also giving consumers as many ways to support small businesses as possible, including partnering with PayPal and Square to give Pay It Forward Live viewers the ability to support small businesses within the live streams.
Helping Small Businesses and the Frontlines
Expanding its commitment to small businesses, this week Verizon Business will pay it forward to a number of small businesses preparing daily meals to feed healthcare workers. This program brings together multiple New York City restaurants with six area hospitals in an effort to help both the restaurants’ workers and hospital staff on the front line providing care to patients. Meals are being provided seven days a week throughout the month of April, at no cost to the hospitals or their employees. The ordering and delivery process is managed by Grubhub which donated its service to help this cause.
“Healthcare workers are physically and emotionally putting themselves on the front line of the fight against COVID-19,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business Group. “And for small businesses – especially restaurants – the impact of social distancing is real. This is an opportunity to bring these groups together, providing a purpose and resources to continue supporting restaurants, and a small gesture of thanks and comfort for hospital and emergency workers in New York City.”
Participating restaurants include: Blue Restaurant, Bella Notte, Dino, Dosa Royale, Locksmith Bar and Mimi Cheng’s. Medical centers receiving food include: Maimonides Medical Center and Hospital for Special Surgery.
Verizon is planning to scale these efforts, with continued support from Grubhub, to help as many as possible in our backyard and beyond. Verizon is urging companies in other cities to support similar efforts to fund local restaurants’ efforts to feed healthcare workers.
To date, Verizon is supporting communities through a combined $20 million donation to nonprofits directed at serving students, healthcare first responders, and small businesses. To find out more about what Verizon is doing to help customers and small businesses, visit verizon.com/about/news/our-response-coronavirus.
3/31 Update: Verizon teams up with Faze Clan to expand Pay It Forward Live into gaming
Verizon will expand Pay It Forward Live, the weekly streaming entertainment series that includes music, gaming, comedy and more in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, with its first gaming event on Tuesday, March 31. Marshmello and FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill will go head to head in a game of Fortnite during the 45-minute event which will stream live at 8:00 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Twitch, Twitter @verizon, Yahoo Entertainment and on Fios Channel 501.
The duo will not only play, but also surprise some of their favorite local businesses, engage with viewers, and create small-business-themed in-game experiences – all while encouraging viewers to support local businesses in their own communities and to use the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE to unlock funds from Verizon to support small businesses on both Twitch and Twitter.
“So many of us have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, and now more than ever we need to stand together and help each other. I’m proud to be teaming up with Verizon & Nate Hill to help small businesses,” said Marshmello. “As a musician a lot of my business is supported by the men and women in local communities and their businesses who help bring shows and festivals to life and who are now out of work for an unknown amount of time. Let’s Pay It Forward and help them now!”
“The COVID-19 virus has taken a toll on many of us, small businesses especially,” says FaZe Clan’s Nate Hill. “I am proud FaZe Clan is teaming up with Verizon to help small businesses in need. As a gamer, I rely on these companies like local restaurants for food every day. I am honored to take part in the Pay It Forward initiative alongside Marshmello and help those in need.”
3/26 Update: Pay It Forward Live launches with Dave Matthews
Pay It Forward Live launched on March 26 with an intimate, at home performance with Dave Matthews. Additional performers and partners will be announced soon. More information can be found at Verizon.com/PayItForwardLive.
Verizon has donated $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC) small business COVID-19 relief efforts. Throughout the Pay It Forward Live series, up to an additional $2.5 million will be unlocked, $10 for each use of the hashtag #PayItForwardLive, as viewers pledge support for their favorite small businesses, bringing the potential donation to a total of $5 million. LISC will use the funds to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19, especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises that don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital in historically underserved communities. All information, along with a link to apply for grants, can be found here.
Verizon is also giving its own customers an easy way to support small businesses by leveraging their customer loyalty program, Verizon Up, which will give members the ability to use their monthly reward for a Visa eGift card to use to support small businesses throughout the month of April.
The funds from Pay it Forward Live are in addition to Verizon’s combined $14 million donation to nonprofits directed at supporting students and healthcare first responders, including No Kid Hungry, the American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) COVID-19 Response Fund, Direct Relief, and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s global response.
Verizon’s support for small business also includes adding 15GB of high speed data for wireless consumer and small business customers to be automatically applied with no customer action necessary; providing first responders with priority and preemption abilities for voice and data and no data caps for consumer and small business Fios and DSL broadband internet plans.
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