Our Story

Our History

iSayItForward was founded in 2019 by an Oklahoma couple, Damon and Jeanetta Sims, who value wisdom and the importance of people imparting their thoughts and words of encouragement to others when the opportunity exists. Focused on doing good, the founders of iSayItForward believe that encouraging others through thoughtful and deliberate communication changes moments. Changed moments change days. And, changed days alter the course of our lives.

Jeanetta holds a Ph.D. in communication and has spent the bulk of her career as a teacher scholar and mentor in higher education. She is known as a thoughtful, collaborative, and articulate leader. Damon has spent more than 20 years in a law enforcement career. He is known for his kind, trustworthy leadership. Together, they have had four children and lived life forward – they have focused on leading by serving through coaching youth sports, guiding college students, and working with local churches. Now, through iSayItForward, they provide a platform for others to live life forward as well.

An impetus for the couple’s inspiration to launch iSayItForward is the loss of their firstborn son Anthony, who passed away at 5 years old from a rare type of brain cancer. The experience of loss and the blessings of family and friends influence iSayItForward’s corporate culture. The company philosophy and core values stem from the founders’ love and appreciation for the son they lost. Despite difficult or challenging times, iSayItForward is an intentional celebration of life lived fully.

At iSayItForward, we believe in the power of SIFs for all of life’s moments – both ordinary and extraordinary. Moments of reminding family we care. Moments of just sending a hello. Moments shared with a group of friends. And, moments of encouraging heart-broken loved ones. We hope you join the iSayItForward movement! Our days and lives need more changed moments.

Our Inspiration

Our son, Anthony, is our inspiration for encouraging thoughtful communication in love, celebration, or concern. We lost Anthony in February 2006 when he passed from a very rare form of brain cancer.

Born January 29, 2001, Anthony walked sooner than most, enjoyed reading, and initially carried a cloth diaper, which he eventually changed to his favorite sailboat blanket that he took with him wherever he happened to go.

Anthony loved playing with his sister. Together, they would have late night and early morning chats. Usually at Anthony’s lead, they watched cartoons, played dinosaurs, painted and colored artwork, rode their toddler bikes, played baseball, drove their cars, and created imaginative play with Barely, Pinkie, Doggie and other stuffed animals. Anthony loved to worship God and enjoyed attending bible class.

Anthony was diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor in August 2005. Despite his six-month battle with cancer and coping through radiation, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant treatments, he continued to be a fun-loving, baseball-playing child.

By example, Anthony taught his family and friends a number of life lessons. Through our loss of Anthony, friends, family, and colleagues sustained our spirits and encouraged us with thoughtful messages, gifts, scriptures, and other forms of encouragement. iSayItForward now makes encouraging others in life’s moments even easier. Anthony, as our inspiration, is a steady reminder of our core values and of our commitment to showing love, care and compassion for people in life’s circumstances.