the elevator project

HOW IT STARTED
In 2006, Greg helped a stranger he met in an elevator.  A doctor (who witnessed what Greg did) bought five copies of The First Thirty (the book based on Greg's story) & made a request: He asked Greg to give the books out to the next five strangers he saw commit acts of kindness.  Within days, other people matched the doctor's act -- ordering copies of the book through this website & asking Greg to give them out on their behalf (&/or simply giving out the books themselves). The Elevator Project was born...  
​ HOW IT HAS GROWN

As time went on, more people & companies & organizations ordered copies of The First Thirty - as well as the expanded edition, The Silhouette Man --  to add to the Project. The sponsors have included Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, Arbor Hospice,  Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Saint Paul, Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce, Sand Springs Community Services, Inc.; Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Wichita, Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce...
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​PROJECT CONTINUES TO GROW...

Center for Collaborative Leadership at UMass Boston sponsored an edition of The Project - and - also ordered copies for their own staff. meetNKY | Northern Kentucky CVB did the same thing. And the Project began spreading to campuses. The Unity Center at Rhode Island College teamed up with RIC Alumni Association to implement an edition on campus.  Ann Damron ordered copies to recognize people for acts of kindness at her alma mater in KY. A community of seniors ordered copies to give out to teens they witnessed show kindness to their residents....

​GIFT OF GIVING
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Groups (i.e. California Milk Advisory Board) have ordered copies for students in their communities to give out -- providing them with the 'gift of giving'. A middle school in Wisconsin ordered copies for 8th graders to give to other people. A Chamber of Commerce in PA ordered copies for every graduate at a local high school to give to people who treated them nicely. The Spotted Cow in IL empowered a local college student to give out copies to people who are helpful and kind to others. 
​PROJECT SPREADS TO OTHER COUNTRIES

​The Elevator Project eventually spread beyond the U.S. -- with copies of the book purchased through this website and then given out to people who commit acts of kindness in places like Canada as far away as Africa. For example, a mother & daughter in Canada ordered copies to give to good samaritans in their city.  A hotel in Canada ordered copies to leave on pillows of guests who treat staff nicely.  Jamba Juice ordered copies to be given out to people spotted being kind and hospitable in South Africa.

UP IN THE AIR

​Dayton International Airport sponsored an edition of the Project on two flights -- one to Dayton and one from Dayton. Passengers & crew who were spotted being kind to others received copies of the book. Visit Pittsburgh did the same thing for a flight to Pittsburgh. Love To Travel sponsored the project on a flight to Kansas City.
 PROJECT GETS RECOGNIZED

The Elevator Project was highlighted by ​Kentucky Monthly & Philanthropy Forward. Rosie's Birthday Club & Mosinee Chamber of Commerce both featured The Elevator Project on their respective websites after sponsoring editions of it. In Iowa, Dyersville Commercial ran an article "Dyersville's Kindness on Display" -- recognizing residents honored through The Project. In Idaho, Eagle Chamber of Commerce's involvement in The Project was featured in an online article.
DURING THE PANDEMIC

During the pandemic, organizations around the US continued to sponsor editions of The Elevator Project in their community -- including groups like Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau, Eagle Chamber of Commerce, Stay Arlington, Visit Corvallis, and Verona Area Chamber of Commerce.  Many of them have used the pandemic-timed edition of the project to recognize front line workers who have made a difference -- such as people who work in grocery stores, people who assist those with financial need and people who work in medical settings.   
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​SAMPLE OF BOOK REVIEWS


TONI MOORE, PRESIDENT & CEO, HOSPITALITY HOUSE OF TULSA:  "The Silhouette Man is a moving story that demonstrates the capacity within
each of us to create a sense of community one neighbor at a time."


PAT HOGAN, MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: "I really loved reading The First Thirty. We all set goals as we travel through life.  If we open ourselves to possibilities, then the people we encounter and the lessons we learn along the way are often the best of the trip."


​MORGAN SHINN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, WENDY'S QSCC: "The Silhouette Man is a great reminder that we can all spend more time doing good in our communities and the huge impact it can have on others. It is reassurance that a little kindness goes a long way. After reading this book, I find myself asking 'what more can I be doing to better my community?'

Bookmarks from the Sponsors

With each book, the recipient typically receives a copy of a note from the sponsor of that particular edition of the project. Every so often, a sponsor goes a step further and creates a bookmark for the occasion. Here are some examples of those bookmarks.

EXAMPLES OF HONOREES
​(click through each block of photos below for captions)

SAMPLE OF RESPONSES FROM THE ELEVATOR PROJECT HONOREES
"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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"...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."

Example of recipients' public responses about being selected in The Elevator Project -- and the response to it from their friends
(screenshots of recipient facebook posts posted here with recipients' permission)

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? (The Silhouette Man is typically for adult-reading level). Click here.

Do you (individually), or does your family /school / team / club / organization / company, want to sponsor an edition of The Elevator Project?  Please contact us here.