The First Thirty Elevator Project

HOW IT STARTED
In 2006, Greg Forbes Siegman helped a stranger he met in an elevator.  A doctor, who witnessed it, bought five copies of The First Thirty by Jillip Paxson (the book based on Greg's story) & made a unique request: He asked Greg to give them out to the next five strangers he witnessed commit acts of kindness.  Within days, other people matched the doctor's act -- ordering copies of the book & asking Greg to give them out on their behalf. The First Thirty Elevator Project was born.  

HOW IT HAS GROWN
As time has gone on, other people & companies have ordered more copies -- one, two, twenty, fifty at a time -- to add to the Project. At the same time, things also expanded in new directions. People & companies ordered copies to give out themselves in their own towns &/or places they visited. Examples include: A community of seniors in Kentucky ordered copies to give out to teens they witnessed show kindness to their residents.  A mother & daughter in Canada ordered copies to give to good samaritans in their city.  A hotel ordered copies to leave on pillowcases of guests who treat staff nicely. 

...AND GROWN... 
Before long, things took another new direction.  Groups ordered copies for students in their communities to give out -- providing them with the 'gift of giving'.  For instance, California Milk Advisory Board ordered copies for each student in their summer leadership program -- & then ordered matching copies so the students could give them to others.  A middle school in Wisconsin ordered copies for 8th graders & matching copies for them to give to others.  A Chamber of Commerce ordered copies for every graduate of a local school to give to people who treated them nicely.  

...AND GROWN...
What began in an elevator in the United States eventually spread beyond the continent -- with copies of the book purchased & then given out to people who commit acts of kindness in places as far away as China & Africa.  In the meantime, it has continued to take place around America - with Greg and others giving out copies, one act of kindness, one copy of The First Thirty at a time.

PROJECT GETS RECOGNIZED
After learning of The First Thirty Elevator Project, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation chose The First Thirty as a recommended read in its Reading Nook.  

THE FIRST THIRTY ELEVATOR PROJECT - EXAMPLES
Pro golfer Jeff Hatten ordered the book to recognize an inspiring young student-athlete who stuck up for another boy teased by classmates. This followed other previous examples from the sporting world - like the Minnesota Vikings and Toronto Blue Jays, who both ordered copies of the book for students in their respective cities. VisitPITTSBURGH ordered copies to be given to people who were kind to others on a flight to Pittsburgh. Mayor Mike Gamache & his wife Beth ordered copies to recognize people in the Mayor's hometown who treat people nicely. After a book club in Pennsylvania read The Silhouette Man (expanded edition of The First Thirty), one of its members ordered copies to give to others. Eagle Elevator & KONE Corporation each ordered copies to be given to people who were kind to others (in Boston & Mt. Joy, PA).

RECENT EXAMPLES
Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau (visitLEX), Wisconsin Humane Society (pictured here), Uptown Normal, Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau, Open Hand, Visit Denver & Boston Cares ordered copies to be given to people who showed kindness to others (in Lexington, KY; in the Milwaukee - Racine area of Wisconsin; Bloomington-Normal, IL; Greater Des Moines, Atlanta, GA & Boston, MA areas). 

See below for a sample of responses from recipients. 
"It is definitely a surprise to me that [I was chosen] as a recipient for the book, but the gesture made my day a little brighter.  I firmly believe one kind smile can make a difference in someone’s life & I’m glad that yesterday I was able to help [a visitor] feel comfortable in our city...."
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"Thank you for reminding me that random acts of kindness happen everyday. Simply saying HI or smiling at a stranger can have a huge impact on someone's day."
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"...my Mom has been diagnosed with... cancer....I read her [parts of the book] while sitting with her in the hospital....Through a really tough time, the book was...uplifting..."
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"I [work at a store. I help customers who come in the door].  I want to believe with my daily job I am a humanitarian & a believer in rightness of people....this story was just what I needed to remind me that I can do anything...At one point [when I was reading the book], I was [eating a sandwich] and tears fell into my sandwich, before I knew I was crying...Everyone comes into your life for a reason & [this book] came into mine to show me I'm on the right track, don't stop believing in people, learn from the mistakes you make, & keep striving till what you dream or imagine is accomplished...I will cherish this book forever."

PHOTO GALLERY
See Photo Gallery for pictures of some of The First Thirty Elevator Project recipients.   Click on pictures to read captions.

Want to get a copy of The First Thirty for yourself or as a gift for someone else? (The First Thirty is for anyone, middle-school aged through grandparents) Click here.

Want to get a copy of The Silhouette Man (expanded edition of The First Thirty) for yourself or as a gift for someone else? The Silhouette Man is typically for adult-reading level). Click here.

Do you (individually), or does your organization / company, want to sponsor another edition of The First Thirty Elevator Project?  Please email us here

HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
-- To express interest &/or ask a question about taking part in The First Thirty Elevator Project, please Contact us --  You can take part as an organization, school, company -- or, simply -- as an individual