the first thirty elevator project
In 2006, Greg helped a stranger he met in an elevator. A doctor who witnessed what was going on became curious, made an effort to learn more about Greg, and bought The First Thirty (the book based on Greg's story). After reading it, the man bought five more copies of the book, inscribed a personal note inside each one, and then made a unique request: He wanted Greg to hold onto the five copies and give them out to the next five strangers he witnessed commit acts of kindness. Within days, other people matched the man's act -- ordering copies of the book and providing similar instructions. Then, an East Coast businessman added fifty more copies to the growing pile. The First Thirty Elevator Project was born.
One by one, Greg gave out the copies -- to a hotel clerk (left), a man at an airport, a passenger on the subway, a pedestrian crossing the street, a cashier at a deli. Each time he witnessed someone commit an act of kindness for a stranger without expectation of anything in return, he would give them a copy of the book. In turn, people continued to order more copies of the book -- one, two, ten, twenty at a time -- to replace the ones he was distributing.
At the same time, things began expanding in new directions. A community of seniors in Kentucky ordered copies to give out to teenagers they witnessed show kindness to seniors in their city. An executive in Canada ordered copies to give out to people she witnessed commit acts of kindness in her nation. Before long, what began in an elevator in the United States spread beyond the continent. In a classic case of the ripple effect at work, the Project spread to the other side of the world -- with copies of the book purchased and then given out to people who commit acts of kindness in places as far away as China and Africa.
WHAT IMPACT DOES THE PROJECT HAVE ON THE RECIPIENTS?
HERE'S WHAT ONE RECIPIENT WROTE (AFTER RECEIVING THE BOOK AS A RESULT OF KINDNESS SHE DEMONSTRATED TO CUSTOMERS, WHILE ON THE JOB)..."I [work at a store that provides office supplies and services. I help customers who come in the door]. I want to believe that with my daily job I am a humanitarian and 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...I had so many emotions coming from me at once....Everyone comes into your life for a reason and [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, and keep striving till what you dream or imagine is accomplished...I will cherish this book forever."
WHAT IMPACT DOES THE PROJECT HAVE ON THE RECIPIENTS?
HERE'S WHAT ONE RECIPIENT WROTE (AFTER RECEIVING THE BOOK AS A RESULT OF KINDNESS SHE DISPLAYED TO CUSTOMERS, WHILE ON THE JOB)..."I [work at a store that provides office supplies and services. I help customers who come in the door]. I want to believe that with my daily job I am a humanitarian and 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...I had so many emotions coming from me at once....Everyone comes into your life for a reason and [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, and keep striving till what you dream or imagine is accomplished...I will cherish this book forever."
HERE'S WHAT ANOTHER RECIPIENT WROTE (AFTER RECEIVING THE BOOK AS A RESULT OF KINDNESS SHE DISPLAYED AT AN AIRPORT, WHILE SHE WAS EN ROUTE TO VISITING HER MOTHER WHO WAS ILL)..."I ended up extending my stay at home as my mom's condition was more serious than expected... she has been diagnosed with...cancer.... I read her some [parts of the book] while sitting with her in the hospital....Through a really tough time, the book was...uplifting..."
To express interest &/or ask a question about taking part in The First Thirty Elevator Project, please Contact us.
One by one, Greg gave out the copies -- to a hotel clerk (left), a man at an airport, a passenger on the subway, a pedestrian crossing the street, a cashier at a deli. Each time he witnessed someone commit an act of kindness for a stranger without expectation of anything in return, he would give them a copy of the book. In turn, people continued to order more copies of the book -- one, two, ten, twenty at a time -- to replace the ones he was distributing.
At the same time, things began expanding in new directions. A community of seniors in Kentucky ordered copies to give out to teenagers they witnessed show kindness to seniors in their city. An executive in Canada ordered copies to give out to people she witnessed commit acts of kindness in her nation. Before long, what began in an elevator in the United States spread beyond the continent. In a classic case of the ripple effect at work, the Project spread to the other side of the world -- with copies of the book purchased and then given out to people who commit acts of kindness in places as far away as China and Africa.
WHAT IMPACT DOES THE PROJECT HAVE ON THE RECIPIENTS?
HERE'S WHAT ONE RECIPIENT WROTE (AFTER RECEIVING THE BOOK AS A RESULT OF KINDNESS SHE DEMONSTRATED TO CUSTOMERS, WHILE ON THE JOB)..."I [work at a store that provides office supplies and services. I help customers who come in the door]. I want to believe that with my daily job I am a humanitarian and 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...I had so many emotions coming from me at once....Everyone comes into your life for a reason and [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, and keep striving till what you dream or imagine is accomplished...I will cherish this book forever."
WHAT IMPACT DOES THE PROJECT HAVE ON THE RECIPIENTS?
HERE'S WHAT ONE RECIPIENT WROTE (AFTER RECEIVING THE BOOK AS A RESULT OF KINDNESS SHE DISPLAYED TO CUSTOMERS, WHILE ON THE JOB)..."I [work at a store that provides office supplies and services. I help customers who come in the door]. I want to believe that with my daily job I am a humanitarian and 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...I had so many emotions coming from me at once....Everyone comes into your life for a reason and [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, and keep striving till what you dream or imagine is accomplished...I will cherish this book forever."
HERE'S WHAT ANOTHER RECIPIENT WROTE (AFTER RECEIVING THE BOOK AS A RESULT OF KINDNESS SHE DISPLAYED AT AN AIRPORT, WHILE SHE WAS EN ROUTE TO VISITING HER MOTHER WHO WAS ILL)..."I ended up extending my stay at home as my mom's condition was more serious than expected... she has been diagnosed with...cancer.... I read her some [parts of the book] while sitting with her in the hospital....Through a really tough time, the book was...uplifting..."
To express interest &/or ask a question about taking part in The First Thirty Elevator Project, please Contact us.
