The community came together in a remarkable show of generosity on September 19 as Judd’s Pay It Forward Picnic returned to The Rail Yard, raising more than $150,000 to provide immediate financial assistance to Lamar County families facing a life-threatening diagnosis or life-changing medical crisis involving a child.
More than 50 sponsors and donors supported this year’s event, helping Judd’s Picnic significantly expand its ability to step in when local families need help most.
The annual Pay It Forward Picnic was created in memory of Judd Bryan, an Aikin Elementary student remembered for his quirky sense of humor, love of history, and dreams of one day becoming a Navy pilot. In September 2024, following a courageous battle with a terminal illness, Judd met Jesus and left a remarkable impact on those who were privileged to know him.
Judd’s story grew into a mission centered on a simple idea: when the unimaginable happens to one family, the community can be ready to help.
In the last 12 months alone, Judd’s Picnic has provided assistance to more than 13 local families. Unlike many traditional assistance programs, the organization responds quickly. A serious diagnosis can immediately mean hospital stays, travel, missed work, meals away from home and countless other unexpected expenses. Judd’s Picnic helps bridge that gap, providing families with financial assistance when the need is immediate.
“When your child is sick, your entire world changes in an instant,” said Cheyney Bryan, Judd’s father. “You’re not thinking about what bills are due or how much it costs to travel back and forth for treatment. You’re thinking about your child. Judd’s Picnic exists so that when another family gets that phone call or hears that diagnosis, we can step in and help take some of that weight off their shoulders. To see this community raise more than $150,000 to make sure we can keep doing that is incredibly meaningful.”
The September 19 event featured live music from Bulletproof PTX and Blue Water Highway, along with dinner by Scholl Bros BBQ, activities, and a live auction led by auctioneer Montgomery Moore.
Among the auction packages was an Altis Powersports Delta S e-bike donated by Chapman Honda of Paris. The item ultimately became one of the most memorable moments of the evening when a group of Cheyney Bryan’s friends joined together to
purchase the bike during the auction, then turned around and gave it back to Cheyney in memory of Judd.
Melissa Jones also donated a four-foot canvas inspired by one of Judd’s original pieces of art. The canvas became a collaborative art piece, completed by kids at the picnic and later auctioned to benefit the organization.
Other auction items included a two-night cabin stay on the Caddo River and a private dinner party for eight prepared by Chef Patten Sommers and donated by BonFire PTX, along with numerous other experiences and items contributed by local businesses and supporters.
For Board Member Anson Amis, the evening’s success reflected exactly what the Pay It Forward mission was created to represent.
“The heart of this organization is neighbors helping neighbors,” Amis said. “None of us expect to be the family who suddenly needs this kind of help, but it can happen to anyone. The idea behind paying it forward is that we come together today so we’re ready for the next family tomorrow. More than 50 sponsors and donors stepped up for this event, and our community showed once again what can happen when people rally around a family in need.”
Judd’s Picnic is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving families in Lamar County. Families facing a child’s life-threatening diagnosis or medical crisis may request assistance directly, and community members may also nominate a family who needs help.
The more than $150,000 raised through this year’s picnic will allow the organization to continue responding to families with urgency while increasing its capacity to help even more families in the future.
“We wish there never had to be another family who needed us,” Bryan said. “But when that day comes, we want them to know they aren’t facing it alone. That’s how we continue Judd’s legacy. We take the love people showed our family and pay it forward to the next one.”
To learn more about Judd’s Picnic, request assistance, nominate a family, or support the organization, visit Juddspicnic.com.
