DJ Bracken

Pay-It-Forward Awardee

After discovering that students statewide were burdened with $2.8 million in school lunch debt, DJ personally paid off debts at local schools and founded the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation (UTLDR). Since its creation, the foundation has raised over $200,000, eliminated lunch debt for more than 30 local schools, and supported legislation guaranteeing free lunches for students in need.

Salt Lake City, Utah

October 15, 2025

Pay-It-Forward

Award

Awarded to:

Individual award recipients are not eligible for a grant, but can “pay it forward” by recommending a values-aligned organization to receive a grant. When an individual receives a “Pay It Forward” award, they are invited to recommend a grant to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in their community that is aligned with the values of the project. “Pay It Forward” recipients are typically awarded to one or several individuals for personal acts of courage

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Copyright © 2022-2026 The Courage Project.
All Rights Reserved.

The Courage Project is fiscally sponsored by the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation.

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