bio
After graduating college, Greg became a teacher. Two months into his career, he witnessed a moment of conflict between three customers at a restaurant. Hoping to bridge the racial, cultural and generational divides which appeared to spark it, he started The Brunch Bunch Mentoring Program. More than 700 students & adults participated in the program. After the first 70 weeks, Greg expanded his efforts & founded The 11-10-02 Foundation. The volunteer-run organization has funded scholarships and grants for students and nonprofits in all 50 states. Driven by his bonds with his childhood best friends (his dog & his Grandmother), he also has devoted a great deal of time & resources to initiatives related to animals and older adults. For his volunteer and philanthropic efforts, he was named one of America's Daily Points of Light and received the Jefferson Award for Public Service. He was honored at Princeton University as 'one of America's top social entrepreneurs under 40'. He was one of the Aspen Ideas Festival Scholars. He has served as Scholar-in-Residence and/or guest speaker/lecturer for events, schools, companies, camps and conferences in different countries. During the pandemic, he has partnered with individuals and organizations around the nation on a variety of initiatives and projects in an effort to make a positive impact. He is co-author of five books and workbooks. The Silhouette Man was honored in Canada as a book that celebrates the wisdom of seniors. The student edition (The First Thirty) was NSDLC Multicultural Relations Book of the Year. He has done readings of his illustrated book, The Milkshake Man, around the USA. His visual art has gone on exhibit at events in different nations. He received the Portraits in Humanity Award - given to someone who has used the arts to make a difference. His other personal interests include reading, travel, food, farms and athletics. In 2013, after a long recovery from spinal surgery capped off by a sprint triathlon, his experience was highlighted by USA Triathlon. Over the years, he also has been featured by media like The Washington Post, NonProfit Times, National Public Radio, Education Week and USA Today. The show, Good Morning America, buried a Time Capsule which chronicled his efforts to increase volunteerism and bring diverse people together within his community. He has written columns/articles and conducted interviews for many publications and media outlets around North America.