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.

To express interest &/or ask a question about taking part in The First Thirty Elevator Project, please Contact us.