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LATEST NEWS Note: This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of Latest News items. Just a sample. (And it may not always be up to date with the latest Latest News). It's just a sample of past and present Latest News items. The first few have pictures to go with them. Beneath those, the rest of the sample are listed alphabetically
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LATINO COLLEGE FAIR: In 2009, organizers of the Latino College Fair in Colorado ordered hundreds of copies of The First Thirty for the attendees, then brought in Greg to serve as the Opening Speaker. As a fun surprise, instead of using the translator that was present, he did the speech in English and Spanish.
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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SUMMIT: Greg and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell were flown in to speak at the Young Professionals Summit in Nebraska. Gladwell keynoted the luncheon. Greg spoke to 700 young professionals during the Closing Session.
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NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE LECTURE SERIES: Greg took part in the North Central College Department of Education Lecture Series. He spoke about some of the teaching-relevant lessons that future educators can extract from their lives outside the classroom. In conjunction with the event, the Department ordered copies of The First Thirty and raffled them off to selected attendees. Work with educators or future educators? Visit www.GregForbes.com, click Welcome, click Speeches, click Educators/Future Educators
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AMERICAN SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE in SOUTH AFRICA: In 2008, Warriors Reaching Out - a US-based stewardship program which provides volunteerism opportunities around the globe - selected The First Thirty as their Readers Choice book for their trip to South Africa. They then booked Greg to come with as American Scholar in Residence. While in South Africa, Greg delivered several speeches in the townships - as well as the 2008 Legacy Lecture at the South African Jewish Museum (the latter sponsored by SA-based King James Group). He also spent three days doing book signings at the Cape Town Book Fair, hosted a series of dinners for up to 25 people, and implemented The First Thirty Elevator Project: Africa (in which copies of The First Thirty were given to a variety of people throughout the region). For much more on Greg's time in South Africa, go to www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com, and click South Africa
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18th ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE on FAMILY LITERACY: At the 18th Annual National Conference on Family Literacy, Greg's role was to co-host the Verizon Tech Savvy Awards which takes place during the Conference and to do a book signing. The other co-host for the Awards banquet was award-winning author and illustrator Peter Reynolds (The North Star). In previous years, the hosts have included actors Eric Close (Without a Trace) and James Earl Jones. In addition to Greg and Mr. Reynolds, the others scheduled to speak and do book signings at the Conference included best-selling authors Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea), Jan Goldstein (All That Matters) and TV icon and best-selling children's author (left) Henry Winkler (Hank Zipzer).
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GENERAL MILLS: Greg was the guest speaker at an event for General Mills. In advance, General Mills ordered some copies of the book (The First Thirty) based on Greg's story for staffers who won a raffle at the event. For Greg, this event had particularly fun meaning - as he has been a lifelong customer of General Mills. To see pictures and feedback from this event, click Here. For more on his connections with the F&B industry, click here.
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TRANSCENDING AGE, RACE, CULTURE IN ALBANY: Greg traveled to Albany New York to take part in several events. He spoke to senior citizens from Russia (with the help of a translator). At a second event, jointly sponsored by two colleges, he gave a speech on diversity as part of Black History Month. At a third event, sponsored by Time Warner Cable, he spoke about philanthropy and service to local leaders and supporters of Capital Region Sponsor-a-Scholar. And then, he led a workship for some of the CRSAS teen Scholars who had already read The First Thirty. To see photos and feedback from the trip, click here
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GW SPEECH INSPIRES DIVERSITY DINNER: During a speech at The George Washington University, Greg talked to students about the value of getting to know people from other cultures. One student particularly inspired by the message, went out and coordinated a dinner for 40 complete strangers from all different backgrounds...for the very next night. To book Greg for a speech, email Events@GregForbes.com
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GOOD MORNING AMERICA BURIES TIME CAPSULE: At the turn of the century, Good Morning America announced it was burying its very own Time Capsule so people a hundred years from now would know where we as a nation were heading in the year 2000. In a piece narrated by Diane Sawyer, it was announced that the very first item placed in the Time Capsule would be a video telling the story of Greg's efforts to increase diversity and understanding among different races, cultures and backgrounds. On its website, ABC noted Greg and his supporters "accomplish more over brunch than many do in a lifetime." The Time Capsule will be opened in the year 2100. In 2008, while in New York to speak on diversity, race and culture at Brooklyn College, Greg spent a morning 'behind the scenes' at GMA. For more on Greg & the press, click on Media. For more details on his efforts to use food as common ground to bring people together, please visit www.ShakingUpAmerica.com
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BISTRO PROVENCE: Citing The First Thirty's focus on teamwork and service, Bistro Provence - a popular provencal-style French restaurant in Florida - ordered copies of the book for their entire staff. Claudine Mourjan, Bistro Provence's Host, ordered 100 copies of the book to give out to staff and regular customers - citing the book's emphasis on a restaurant's unique ability to bring special people together. As a civic gesture, they gave some of the copies to a local school. For much more on Bistro Provence, go to www.BistroProvence.com
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ATHLETICS: Over the years, Greg has collaborated with a variety of sports teams and athletes on various projects. In some cases, they've gotten involved with his charitable foundation. NHL Star Chris Chelios, for instance, has funded one of The 11-10-02 Foundation Scholarships. Jim Miller, then QB of the Chicago Bears (NFL), and Eric Young, then Second Baseman of the Chicago Cubs (MLB), have both served on 11-10-02 Foundation Scholarship Boards - and the Bears put together a great package for a Silent Auction benefitting The 11-10-02 Foundation. In some cases, Greg has been asked to speak to athletes - for instance, he spoke with a college basketball team in Canada. In other cases, some pro sports teams have engaged in community projects involving The First Thirty (the book based on Greg's story). For instance, Tiki Barber and the New York Giants (NFL) sponsored a community service essay contest based on the book for teens in New York. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Vikings (NFL) ordered copies of The First Thirty for local teens and then sponsored an essay contest based on the book for them - with the winning students receiving a signed jersey from then-Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper and a grant from a local bank. For more on the connections between Greg, The First Thirty and Athletics, click here
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JOHN SCULLEY & GREG SPEAK AT VALLEY BUSINESS CONFERENCE: John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and former CEO of Pepsi, and Greg were among three speakers at the 2006 Valley Business Conference, along with Executive Speech Coach & Sales Trainer Patricia Fripp. The Northern California event, attended by hundreds of business and community leaders, was sponsored by more than 50 corporations, universities, organizations and media outlets. For more on the event and those that occurred on the same trip, click here .
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NEW YORK WORKSHOPS: In the fall of 2005, HESC and APC ordered more copies of The First Thirty and A Place To Sit for students in New York, then brought Greg to town to lead workshops with the students in which they discussed the applications of the lessons from the book and workbook. To see pictures and read feedback, click on this link.
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9-11: As an educator, Greg tried to utilize 9/11 as a way to talk with students in his classroom about the issues involved. USA Today ran a story about different educators including Greg and how they were responding to 9/11 in the classroom. Shortly after 9/11, Greg was brought to Kentucky to speak at several student assemblies -- regarding ways to respond to intolerance. In the months that followed the tragedies of 9-11, Greg and another young professional (a real estate developer, Jonathan) coordinated a special post-9/11 design contest to help teach students to use art, creativity and design as a positive, nonviolent response to tragedy. Greg and Jonathan then went out and raised the money from leaders in the architecture, real estate and design industries to fund college scholarships for the top three finishers. Top leaders in those industries also volunteered their time to serve as the judges. In 2009, Greg served as the keynote speaker for the 9/11 anniversary luncheon for staff at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. To see pictures and notes from that event, visit here. 11-10-02: The date of Greg's thirtieth birthday - November 10, 2002 - is what the name of his nonprofit organization (The 11-10-02 Foundation) is based on. Its name represents the belief that people thirty and under can make a difference, too. For more on The 11-10-02 Foundation and its mission, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org 11-10-02.com: On the date 11-10-02, a special event was held at the movie theater - with all proceeds benefittng The 11-10-02 Foundation. For more on the event, visit www.11-10-02.com ADVANCE MENTORING, INC: Advance Mentoring, Inc. ordered copies of The First Thirty to support a civic project undertaken by MBAs who were reading the book as part of a course at Saint Louis University. The MBA students decided how to utilize the extra copies of The First Thirty, provided by Advance Mentoring Inc., to do something positive in the community. To see what they ultimately decided to do with the copies, click here and read through the story. AFRICA: On a number of occasions, schools in the US have chosen The First Thirty as their "Reader Book" for an international student trip to Africa - ordering copies of the book for the students. In 2008, Greg served as American Scholar in Residence for a US-based volunteerism program in South Africa. While in Africa, he also spoke at some schools, delivered the 2008 Legacy Lecture at the SAJ Museum, his art went on exhibit for one night at the Museum, he hosted a series of dinners for people in South Africa, and he signed copies of the book at the annual Cape Town Book Fair. In conjunction with his trip, a variety of people and companies around the US and Canada ordered extra copies of the book to spearhead The First Thirty Elevator Project Africa. To see pictures/notes from his time in Africa, visit www.GregForbes.com, click Welcome, click Greg's Week, click June 2008 Africa
ARCHITECTURE, REAL ESTATE: See 9-11
ART: Greg has three art collections. My Sleepless Nights features Greg's portraits of contemporary, historic and cinematic figures who inspire us to think, act, serve, give and lead. Art World News called the collection a "tribute to diversity." Parts of the collection have been on display in places like California, New York, Chicago, Canada and Africa. The other two collections are called The Art of Nothing and Rejection Art. In 2008, he received the Portraits in Humanity Award in Canada - given to someone who has 'used the arts to make a difference.' For more, go to www.MySleeplessNights.com
ASNUNTUCK COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Asnuntuck Community College ordered copies of The First Thirty and donated them to a local high school for the juniors-becoming-seniors, to help get them thinking about the college process. The school then subsequently ordered copies for one of their own courses (First Year Experience - a freshman orientation course) and booked Greg to speak on campus. To see pictures and feedback from that event, click here BANKS, INVESTMENT BANKS & OTHER FINANCIAL INSTIUTIONS: A wide variety of banks, investments banks , other financially-related institutions, their staffers and their respective Foundations have been among those who have supported Greg's efforts, and they have done so in a wide variety of ways, such as: (a) inviting Greg to speak at one of their events and/or sponsoring an event where Greg spoke, (b) ordering copies of The First Thirty and/or The Silhouette Man for their own staff or to donate to students in their respective communities, (c) order copies of The First Thirty to donate to students in other parts of the country (such as the one which ordered copies of The First Thirty to donate to kids impacted by Hurricane Katrina), (d) sponsoring essay contests based on The First Thirty, (e) volunteering their time through Greg's old mentoring program (The Brunch Bunch), and/or contributing to his nonprofit organization (The 11-10-02 Foundation). The list of those who have done one or more of the above includes (but is not limited to): Washington Mutual, Fifth Third Bank, North Community Bank , Chicago Mercantile Exchange , Goldman Sachs , Rockville Bank , Citizens Bank , Peoples Bank of Commerce , First Bank of Highland Park , Glenview State Bank , Northview Bank & Trust , Tompkins State Bank, Union Bank of California , Tokyo-Mitsubishi Futures , Bank of America , Wells Fargo , Comerica Bank , Bank of the Sierra , County Bank, Scotiabank, California Bank and Trust , York State Bank & Trust Co. , Sunflower Bank BLACK HISTORY MONTH: In February 2008, Greg served as keynote speaker for a Black History Month event on diversity, jointly co-sponsored by two colleges in New York. Organizers said they felt Greg served as an example for the students that you "don't need to be black to learn from black history" and that, in general, you don't need to look like someone to learn from them. To see the pictures and feedback from the event, click here In February 2009, Greg served as the Black History Month speaker at an event jointly sponsored by two high schools in Wisconsin. Organizers also ordered copies of the books and posters for selected students. BOOKS: The First Thirty has been used with groups ranging from grade school (4th, 5th, 6th grade) on up. The Silhouette Man is the expanded version of the book, mostly intended for adults. A Place To Sit is a workbook based on the books. It provides hundreds of questions and projects which readers can consider as individuals or as part of a class/staff/team. For more on The First Thirty or The Silhouette Man, go to www.TheSilhouetteMan.com - For more on A Place To Sit, go to www.APlaceToSit.com - The book and workbook are now available at a variety of bookstores around the country. They are also available on this website by clicking Shopping Cart . To order bulk copies of the books and/or workbooks for your staff, your class, your campers, your members - or on behalf of a school or organization in your area - email Books@IdeaListEnterprises.com BOOK CLUBS: A variety of book clubs have selected The First Thirty for their readings. In some cases, book clubs have started around The First Thirty. In one instance, a former staff member of NBC now working for a nonprofit organization that works with college students read a copy of The First Thirty when her organization selected it as reading material for a Leadership Retreat. After reading the book, she bought every copy available at her local Borders, and then bought a half dozen more at another Borders. Then, she sent them to friends with the news that she was starting her own book club revolving around The First Thirty -- and had selected them as charter members. BOOK FAIRS: Greg has taken part in a number of book fairs. One such event was the 2008 Cape Town Book Fair in South Africa. To see pictures and feedback, go to www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com, and click Africa BOOK SIGNING RESPONSES: On a number of occasions, there have been some memorable responses to Greg's book signings. In one instance, at an event in New York, two different women whom Greg had never met each ordered 50 copies of the book. In another instance, after attending a book signing, a woman Greg had never previously met ordered 70 copies of the book and 40 copies of the poster based on it. In another memorable case, Greg took part in a book signing for The First Thirty in New Hampshire. The line lasted over an hour. The support is greatly appreciated!! To see a picture, click here and scroll the pictures to find it. BOOK STORES: The books have sold out at a variety of stores around North America including stores in places like California, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, New York, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida. In one particular fun case, Greg's hometown Borders, the store has indicated they have sold hundreds of copies. If the book is not at your local store, you can get it online by clicking on Shopping Cart here on the website BRUNCHBUNCH.COM WEEK STREAK LASTS 243 WEEKS: After witnessing what he perceived to be a moment of racial intolerance, Greg vowed to bring people together from different races and backgrounds by coordinating and hosting weekly brunches at restaurants across the city. It would be 243 weeks later before he took a weekend off (or, to put it another way, he was 24 years old when he arranged the first brunch and twenty-nine when the Streak finally ended). Over the course of the Streak, more than 700 people took part in at least one brunch -- many of them returning over and over. For more on Greg's civic efforts, click here . For more details on the brunch program, please see www.ShakingUpAmerica.com and click Enter Here
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CAMPAGNIA RESTAURANT: Campagnia -- one of the top restaurants on the West Coast -- co-sponsored an essay contest based on The First Thirty in Fresno. For more info, go to www.Campagnia.net CANADA: Greg has worked extensively with a variety of schools, organizations and companies in Canada. He took part in the Lakehead University Speaker Series. At the time, he was the youngest person who had been invited to do so. In conjunction with the event, Lakehead University hosted a One Night Only exhibit of My Sleepless Nights (Greg's art collection). He served as Scholar-in-Residence at Confederation College (a community college in Ontario). In advance of the visit, Confederation officials ordered dozens of copies of The First Thirty and its companion workbook, A Place To Sit. Greg also spoke at an all-school assembly for several hundred teens at a Catholic school in Canada. In advance of that event, the school ordered copies of The First Thirty for faculty. The Thunder Bay, Ontario chapter of Rotary Club ordered copies of The First Thirty for kids in their community. Scotiabank did the same thing. Scotiabank also sponsored an essay contest on The First Thirty for local students. Travelodge Hotel Airlane ordered copies of The First Thirty and companion workbook A Place To Sit for its staff. The following year, Greg was brought back to Canada to speak at another series of events - including an event for college students, an event for women business leaders, two high school assemblies, and an event for hundreds of donors of United Way (the latter appearance was sponsored by Scotiabank). Subsequently, more groups in Canada have been ordering the book - including the Green Tourism Association, Hearing Solutions, Thunder Bay Public Library, Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Center, and TBayTel. In 2008, Greg was brought back to Canada again -- this time, to speak to the students and staff of the Children's Centre, staff of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, two events for senior citizens and a Remembrance Day event for 400 teens. In conjunction with the latter event, the Toronto Blue Jays and Herman Miller Canada both ordered copies of the books for selected students. Also in 2008, Greg was honored in Canada with the Portraits in Humanity Award and his art went on exhibit for one night at an event geared toward young professionals -- with their proceeds benefiting a local charity. In 2009, Greg was brought back to Canada to keynote the LORNA Conference, speak at a National Grandparents Day event, and pose in a PSA campaign to promote literacy and libraries. Along the way, he has also written for a number of Canadian publications including: an article for University of Calgary's magazine about an inspiring Canadian hotel manager/cancer survivor -- and -- a column for Business Edge Magazine about his philosophies on business and travel. To see pictures from the speeches in 2007 in Canada, please click here CENTERPOINT ATHLETIC CLUB: The California-based fitness club ordered thirty copies of The First Thirty to donate to a top local high school in Fresno. For more on them, go to www.CenterpointAC.com CHICAGOLAND SENIOR NEWS: Greg and his Grandma were featured in a cover story for Chicagoland Senior News. Shortly after its publication, a copy of the magazine autographed by Greg's Grandma went for $5000 to a person neither of them had ever met (via a charity auction). Since then, the adventures of Greg and his Grandma have been chronicled repeatedly inside the pages of Senior News. For more on Greg's Grandma, click on Greg's Grandma CITIZENS BANK: The Yonkers, NY branch of the bank that prides itself on being 'not your typical bank' lived up to its billing by sponsoring an essay contest revolving around The First Thirty for high school students in the Yonkers area -- providing a grant to help the winning student with their educational needs. For more on Citizens Bank, go to www.CitizensBank.com CIVIL RIGHTS ART PROGRAM: The 11-10-02 Foundation funded a grant for a Civil Rights-related Art Program at a public school in Chicago, where middle school students learn about civil rights figures such as Joann Robinson, then create art to depict moments in the story. Over the years, 11-10-02 has provided financial and in-kind support to public schools in Chicago for programs such as this one (and others that highlight Music, Film, Math, Science, Reading and other important fields). For more on The 11-10-02 Foundation, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org
CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SCHOLARSHIPS: The 11-10-02 Foundation funded a series of scholarships for college students in Alabama studying to become Civil Rights Lawyers. For more on The 11-10-02 Foundation, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org COLLEGE BOUND: The national magazine for college-bound teens ran a story about the college selection process and used Greg's story as a case study of sorts for the readers to consider. COLLEGE NEWS: The popular publication for students has done a series of stories about Greg and his story, including a feature article on The First Thirty. The magazine also sponsored an essay contest in Connecticut based on the book. CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS CLASS: In the fall of 2005, a Contemporary Authors Class on the East Coast did a class-wide reading of The First Thirty. CORPORATE: A wide variety of companies around North America have ordered copies of The First Thirty for internal and external programming, with some examples including Sara Lee Corp, BennettFrost Personnel Services, Quantum Workplace and Herman Miller Canada among others. In a number of cases, Greg has been booked to speak at corporate events as well, with some examples including General Mills, Senior Lifestyle Corporation and Village on the Green. In other cases, prominent companies and/or their foundations have sponsored events where Greg has spoken, with some examples including Time Warner Cable, Scotiabank and the Verizon Foundation.
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DAILY POINT OF LIGHT At the age of 29, Greg was honored as one of America's Daily Points of Light - an honor bestowed upon one individual or organization in America each day. Separately, Greg's civic organization (The 11-10-02 Foundation) was honored as one of America's Daily Points of Light as well. DANIELS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS : The Business School based at University of Denver incorporated The First Thirty and A Place To Sit into one of their Business School courses. They also booked Greg to guest lecture one day of the course. DANIELS ENTREPRENEURSHIP SOCIETY: The Colorado-based Daniels Entrepreneurship Society elected to do a Society-wide reading of The First Thirty.
DENVER ACADEMY: Greg was honored as a Writer-in-Residence at Denver Academy in Colorado - spending a day visiting with students who were reading The First Thirty in class. In conjunction with Greg's visit, students at DA were given he chance to take part in an Art Contest based on the book, sponsored by a restaurant in downtown Denver location. EDUCATION WEEK: The publication well-known in academic circles did a feature story about The 11-10-02 Foundation and its efforts to help students who may otherwise get overlooked and underestimated. For more on The 11-10-02 Foundation, please visit www.ShakingUpAmerica.org ELECTED LEADERS: Over the years, Greg and/or The Brunch Bunch and/or The 11-10-02 Foundation have received some really nice notes from a variety of public figures from all sides of the political spectrum. They include:
President Bush, First Lady Bush, Former President Clinton, The White House Millennium Council, Former President Bush, NAACP CEO Kweisi Mfume and a variety of Governors, Senators, Representatives and Mayors from places like Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota and Massachusetts. To see the letter sent by Laura Bush, click here. Other public figures have teamed up with Greg on civic projects. Separately, Greg has drawn portraits of a number of elected leaders including John F. Kennedy, John Kerry, Bill Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama. To see some of the portraits, visit www.MySleeplessNights.com ELIE WIESEL AND GREG SPEAK AT DAY OF TOLERANCE Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize honoree and author of the celebrated book Night, and Greg were the two speakers for 'A Day of Tolerance'. Greg spoke in the afternoon. Professor Wiesel spoke in the evening. The following week, two students wrote an extremely flattering article for the paper outlining the parallels between Greg, Wiesel and their views. In another instance, Greg's story was assigned to a high school English class alongside Night. To read more about that, click on this link.ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK USA: Greg was among a handful of ness people recognized as 'Trailblazers' by EntrepreneurshipWeek USA - a program promoting entrepreneurship to students which was sponsored by New York Times; Inc.; and the Kauffman Foundation. Others on the list included the likes of Ron Rubin, Chairman of the Board (aka Minister of Tea), The Republic of Tea and Paul Orfalea (Founder, Kinko's). Shortly thereafter, Rubin (featured here with Greg) read The First Thirty (the Jillip Naysinthe Paxson book based on Greg's story). Upon finishing, Ron decided to incorporate the book into an MBA Course in St. Louis for which he serves as Adjunct Professor (Selected Topics in Entrepreneurship). He also ordered additional copies of the book for friends and staffers; and then brought Greg to St. Louis as a surprise guest lecturer on the last day of the MBA course in May 2007. To see pictures from that trip, click HERE
FIFTEEN KIDS RECEIVE SURPRISE $75,000 CHALLENGE: At the end of The 11-10-02 Foundation's first Gala, having fulfilled his goal of sending a student to college, Greg was expected to announce he was heading off to law school. Instead, he announced he wasn't going anywhere -- and would instead focus on sending even more kids to college. He issued a challenge to 15 high school students and raised $75,000 to underwrite it. To learn more about what he did, check out the $75,000 Challenge . FIRST RESPONDERS: Greg has taken a number of steps to help honor those who serve. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he launched ProjectThankYou.com to recognize the efforts of First Responders. FIRST YEAR ORIENTATION PROGRAMS: A number of colleges have used The First Thirty for First Year Experience - their freshman orientation course. For instance, in 2007, St. John's University used The First Thirty as part
of their programming with new students. Others have inquired about bringing Greg to speak to their students. Asnuntuck Community College in Connecticut, for instance, had Greg to speak to their First Year students in Fall 2005. After they used The First Thirty, St. John's also had Greg come speak on campus. To see pics/feedback, please visit www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Site, click Greg's Week, click September 2007 FOREIGN LANGUAGES: Over the years, Greg has done a number of speeches for foreign audiences and/or involving foreign languages. In one instance, he gave a speech in Spanish to students at The George Washington University. In another case, he did a speech in English (and Spanish mixed in along the way) at the Latino College Fair in Colorado. In another instance, he spoke to a group of senior citizens from Russia (with a translator). In other cases, he has spoken in Canada and Africa. To see pictures and feedback from the event for Russian senior
citizens, and read how it went with the translator, according to the event's organizer, check out www.GregForbes.com, click Greg's Week, click February 2008. FRESNO STATE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: Fresno State Leadership Program incorporated The First Thirty into its Leadership Program, ordering a copy for each undergraduate in the program. For more on the book's connections to Leadership & Teamwork, click Here GARDEN: In the summer of 1997, Greg teamed up with Maxim Group to provide the money and manpower to build a basketball court-sized garden inside the empty atrium of a Chicago Public School. For more on Greg's civic
efforts, go to www.ShakingUpChicago.com GRADUATION GIFT: A high school on the East Coast selected The First Thirty as a graduation gift for the Class of 2005 -- every student in the graduating class received a copy of the book. In conjunction with that, school officials also booked Greg to be their 2005 Commencement Speaker. GRANDPARENTS DAY GIFT: For many readers, the most beloved character in The First Thirty is Greg's Grandma, and bookstores have agreed. A variety of them have selected The First Thirty as a featured gift for Grandparents Day. GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDED, NAMED AFTER FORMER TEACHERS & OLD FRIENDS: On a number of occasions, Greg has paid homage to some of his former teachers by raising the funds to establish a grant and then naming it after one of the teachers who made a difference in his life. He has done this in honor of former teachers and administrators from his old grade school, middle school, high school and colleges. On four occasions, tragically, one of Greg's friends or relatives have died. In those cases, Greg raised the funds and created college scholarships in their honor. To learn more about Greg's civic efforts, go to www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Site, click Civic GREG'S STORY PLACED IN COMPANY OF SERIES OF BOOKS & FILMS: Over the years, in classrooms and in the press, Greg's story has been placed in some pretty neat company. His story has been compared to, or used
alongside of, a number of classic books and/or legendary films. They include: Homer's Odyssey (a high school class), Ralph Waldo Emerson's Experience and the teachings of Gandhi (a college course), Tuesdays with Morrie (a high school class), the life of Steven Spielberg (The Washington Post Co.), the film Secret of my Success (College News), the film Schindler's List and the book Night by Elie Wiesel (high school course) and the story of Forrest Gump
(repeatedly in the press). To read about Greg's story being assigned to students in conjunction with Night, click on this link. GUEST COLUMNS: In the summer of 2000, Greg wrote a guest column for the Chicago Sun-Times. The topic was labels, stereotypes and the impact they have upon the people on whom they're placed. Greg has subsequently written guests columns on a variety of topics for the Sun-Times and a number of other publications. The topics have included Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, 9-11's aftermath and dealing with physical obstacles. For more, please
visit www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Site, click Writing
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HARVARD UNIVERSITY:
Greg was invited to speak to the graduate school students at Harvard
University, as part of a program that focused on different forms of
'global' leadership. While Greg ultimately did not go do it,
the invitation was still one he sincerely appreciated. For more on
Greg's speeches, go to Speeches .
HASBRO REAL LIFE AMERICAN HERO: To
celebrate the 35th anniversary of G.I. Joe, Hasbro Inc. decided to
honor 35 "real life American Heroes" who demonstrate the qualities of
honor, service, leadership and integrity symbolized by G.I. Joe. Greg
was one of three Americans under the age of 30 selected for this
honor. For more info, go to Honors & Awards
HERMAN MILLER CANADA: Herman Miller Canada generously ordered copies of The First Thirty for selected students in Toronto. Visit: www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com, click Canada.
HILLEL The Fiedler Hillel Center incorporated The First Thirty
into its Leadership Program, ordering a copy for each student. Greg
has done speeches and/or book signings with other chapters of Hillel.
HOLIDAY GIFTS: Northbrook, Illinois native David Zoberman read The First Thirty.
He then bought all the copies in stock at a local Borders and gave them
out as holiday gifts to friends. Want to do the same? Check your local
store or email us at Books@IdeaListEnterprises.com
HONORARY PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY On three separate occasions, Greg has served as Honorary Principal for a Day at a local grade school.
INTERNS:
Greg has provided an extensive number of internships for
students around the country. The interns have come from a wide variety
of high schools and colleges.
JAMBA JUICE: A division of the super smoothie place ordered copies of The First Thirty to be given out in Africa as part of The First Thirty Elevator Project Africa. For more on this, go to www.TheFirstThirty.com, click Elevator Project or click Africa (or both). You can see the results of the trip at www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com, click South Africa. If you'd like to order copies of The First Thirty to be given to others, email Books@IdeaListEnterprises.com
JEFFERSON AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, JUSTICE O'CONNOR AND PRESIDENT CLINTON:
Greg was honored by NBC 5 Chicago with the local Jefferson Award for
Public Service. He was also selected to attend the National Jefferson
Awards for Public Service later that year in Washington D.C. -- the
youngest adult in the country to be selected. During his three days,
Greg got the chance to, among other things: attend a gala dinner with
the likes of John Glenn, attend a special ceremony in the Supreme Court
with Justice Day O'Connor, attend a special reception with several
dozen Senators, observe a live broadcast of NBC Nightly News, spend a
day on the set of Hannibal, visit the White House, meet
President Clinton and the head of Argentina, and walk the President's
dog around the West Wing of the White House. To see a list of honors
Greg has received, go to Honors & Awards.
KC COLLEGE: KC selected The First Thirty
for its Honor Society -- ordering a copy for every member in
conjunction with MLK Day 2006. They then invited Greg to serve as
their 06 Commencement Speaker and bestowed an honorary degree upon him.
LAKE MAGAZINE: Lake Magazine did a story on Greg and The First Thirty. The article was entitled "The Remarkable Life of the Extraordinary Greg Forbes Siegman." A few months later, LAKE gave Greg the fun opportunity to pick someone and write a profile on them. To see who he picked and what he wrote, click HERE.
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL RIGHTS: The organization recognized The Brunch Bunch, as one of its 'Promising Programs' .
LIONS CLUB: The Andover, Minnesota chapter of the Lions Club purchased fifty copies of The First Thirty and donated them to a local high school in Minnesota. They also signed on as a sponsor for an essay contest based on the book.
LOEWS CINEPLEX HOSTS PREVIEW OF GREG'S FIRST FILM ON NIGHT OF HIS 30TH BIRTHDAY: On
the night of Greg's 30th birthday, 11-10-02, Loews Cineplex
Entertainment hosted a sneak preview of Greg's first film, which also
included a catered Italian dinner for hundreds of people, dessert by The Eli's Cheesecake Co. and sodas by Cripple Creek
Brewing Co. For more, go to www.11-10-02.com
LOUISIANA:
At the age of 19, Greg moved to Louisiana to attend college. It was
his first time ever setting foot in the Deep South, and he came to
enjoy it a great deal. During his time there, he became very active in
the local community - volunteering at local schools, joining a
fraternity, getting elected to student government, establishing a
mentoring program for local middle school kids, and eventually, being
appointed by the Dean to the position of Chairman of Community
Service. Later, after establishing his nonprofit organization (The 11-10-02 Foundation),
Greg raised the funds to create several grants for local schools which
he named after three professors in Louisiana who had impacted his life
(as well as a fourth grant he named after the Dean). The 11-10-02
Foundation has also funded a number of grants to benefit students and
programs and schools in Louisiana.He has taken part in an extensive
number of interviews promoting the school and/or the state. For his
book, The First Thirty,
he chose "Louisiana" to be the name of the school the main character
attends - in an effort to further promote the state. Following the
tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, he wrote several guest columns for papers
like the Chicago Sun-Times urging about the decency and kindness he experienced in Louisiana. In the weeks that followed, Greg launched ProjectThankYou.com
- a program which gives people the chance to make a small but
meaningful difference for First Responders in the Gulf Coast -- by,
simply enough, emailing in a thank you note.
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MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: A number
of Greg's events have been part of MLK Day festivities and/or events
revolving around multiculturalism and diversity. After The First Thirty
came out, a number of groups and organizations used it as part of their
MLK Day and/or multiculturalism/diversity programming. KC's Honor
Society, for example, selected The First Thirty for a
group-wide reading in conjunction with MLK Day in 2006. To book Greg
for an MLK Day event (or other event related to multiculturalism and
diversity), email Events@GregForbes.com
- In 2007, a dinner Greg hosted in St. Louis led to a surprise
donation for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial being built in
Washington DC. To see pictures from the dinner and the story behind
it, click here - To see an article about it on the website for the MLK Memorial, click here
In 2009, Greg spoke at two events for MLK Day in Nebraska - one for
approximately 500 people, another for approximately 1100 people.
MINNESOTA TEENS: An organization in Minnesota that works with local Jewish teens ordered 150 copies of The First Thirty to incorporate into their Youth Philanthropy programming.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS:
Greg keynoted an annual event hosted by several Mayors in MInnesota.
In conjunction with the event, the (NFL) Minnesota Vikings purchased
copies of The First Thirty for local students. In the days
that followed, other groups such as the Andover Lions Club and Peoples
Bank of Commerce followed suit and purchased even more copies for other
students in the area. The Vikings then also sponsoerd a community
service essay contest for the students.
MITZVAH PROJECT:
As part of his Bar Mitzvah, a young man named Josh launched a
philanthropy project with The 11-10-02 Foundation. Josh raised hundreds
of dollars for The 11-10-02 Foundation through various activities. In
turn, 100% of those funds were donated by The 11-10-02 Foundation to
help need-based students with education-related needs -- with Josh
assisting in the process ("Donor-advised Grant"). The first $500 Josh
raised for The 11-10-02 Foundation was donated with his approval to a
nonprofit called Changing Worlds to provide art supplies for the
students they assist. Josh and his mom also paid a visit to their site
and met with some of Changing World's leaders, including Mark
Rodriguez. Want to do a similar project with 11-10-02 (and/or have
your child or students do one)? Email Director@ShakingUpAmerica.org
MOST ELIGIBLE MAN:
As a child, Greg was often teased for the way he looked. From the
chubby cheeks to the buck teeth to the gigantic ears, he looked like a
bonafide cartoon character -- making it all the more amusing that 25
years later, multiple
magazines would be labeling him one of Chicagos most eligible men --
and even funnier, that two well-known prime time television shows asked him about being on their shows as one of America's most eligible men. (He
declined both TV offers). (For the record, he's still single).
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS:
Greg's first philanthropic efforts took place when he was in grade
school - raising funds to help fight Multiple Sclerosis. These days,
the book based on his story (The First Thirty) is used to
inspire other young people to do the same thing. In one instance, YAMS
(Youth Against MS) ordered copies for their Board of Directors and top
supporters. In another instance, a state chapter of the MS Society
ordered copies of The First Thirty for their student honorees. The National MS Society has featured Greg in its Gallery of Philanthropists. For more on Greg's civic efforts, please see www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Site, click Civic
MYTOWNHALL.INFO: The popular community portal website founded by Dr. Matt Conway sponsored the purchase of copies of The First Thirty
for the entire 2005 graduating class of a high school on the East
Coast. Three months later, MyTownHall.info ordered more copies for
students at another high school in the area. For more on
MyTownHall.info, go to www.MyTownHall.info
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: Greg was a guest on National Public Radio. For more on Greg & the press, click on Media .
NEBRASKA: While
in college, Greg spent a summer serving as an intern for an elected
official from Nebraska. Since then, Greg has been a guest speaker at a
variety of events in Nebraska - including ones for high school
students, college students, young professionals and senior citizens.
NEW YORK DINNERS:
In the spring of 2002, Greg was one of 25 social entrepreneurs invited
to a special dinner at the Harvard Club in New York City. Through
that experience, he made a new friend named Sanda. As a fun tradition,
whenever Greg has a speech or book signing in the Big Apple, he and
Sanda now co-host a dinner of their own -- with somewhere between 15-40
people attending each one. To see pictures from one of the events,
click on this link
(and scroll down past the school pictures until you see the dinner
pictures). To see pictures from another one of the events, click on this link (and again, scroll down past the school pictures until you see the dinner pictures).
NEW YORK GIANTS: The community-minded NFL team supported an essay contest revolving around The First Thirty and its lessons for students in New York. For more on the New York Giants, go to www.Giants.com
NEW YORK GRANT WRITERS:
A New York-based organization that works with grant writers and
educators who work with students all throughout the state ordered
hundreds of copies of The First Thirty to incorporate into a Conference.
NEWSWEEK KAPLAN COLLEGE GUIDE: Greg was featured in the annual Newsweek Kaplan College Guide
in an article about the college application process. The article was
about three stories from the last century that can serve as a reminder
to students about the sometimes difficult-to-navigate process of
getting into college. There was one story from the 1930s, one from the
1960s and Greg's story from the 1990s. For more on Greg & the
press, click on Media .
NONPROFIT PROGRAMS: The Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program at University of Missouri - St. Louis ordered copies of The First Thirty
for its staff. In turn, a member of the staff (Lindsay) drove to a
local Borders and purchased every copy in stock - giving them out to
friends and family as holiday gifts. For more on The First Thirty, please visit www.TheFirstThirty.com
NORTH COMMUNITY BANK: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, North Community Bank ordered copies of The First Thirty
for students at a school in the Gulf Coast area -- on behalf of its
management and staff at its two dozen locations throughout Chicago's
north side. NCB reps cited the relevance of the story's themes of
dealing with obstacles and turning negatives into positives (as well as
the fact that part of the story is set in Louisiana). For more on NCB,
go to www.NorthCommunityBank.com
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY: Greg
was invited to speak at Northwestern University's Annual Seminar Day --
a daylong event of lectures. The other speakers included a professor
of cell & molecular biology, the Dean of the Kellogg School of
Management, a composer from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a Brigadier
General for the U.S. Marine Corps and an editor at the Wall Street Journal. On another occasion, Greg spoke at NU for an event on community service hosted by a student organization. In 2006, a student organization at NU - Zeta Beta Tau - ordered copies of The First Thirty
to donate to a local school, as one of their civic projects. Then,
another student group - Fiedler Hillel - ordered copies for their
Leadership Program.
NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS: The
11-10-02 Foundation funded a series of scholarships for college
students in Kentucky studying the field of Nursing. For more on The
11-10-02 Foundation, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org
OHIO EVENT: Greg
was invited to Ohio to keynote a Donor Thank You Event for a major
philanthropic organization -- Menorah Park Foundation-- speaking to the
organization's top donors about what they can do to inspire others to
follow their generous lead. For more on Greg's speeches, click on Speeches
ONE BY ONE LEADERSHIP: The
faith-based organization whose mission is to "engage people in urban
leadership that results in economic, educational and spiritual
transformation" ordered dozens of copies of The First Thirty to give out to some of their top supporters. For more information on them, click here
PEOPLES BANK OF COMMERCE: Peoples Bank of Commerce purchased sixty copies of The First Thirty
and donated them to a local high school in Minnesota. They also signed
on as a sponsor for an essay contest based on the book. For more on
Peoples Bank, go to www.e-pbc.com
PICCADILLY INN AIRPORT HOTEL: Citing
the relevance of the book's reflections on the impact of good service
and small acts of kindness, the hotel provided copies of The First Thirty to its Senior Management as well as its Employee of the Year. For more on Piccadilly Inn Airport Hotel, click here .
PORTRAITS IN HUMANITY AWARD: In
2008, Greg was honored in Canada with the Portraits in Humanity Award -
given to someone who has "used the arts to make a difference. In
conjunction with the honor, Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention
Center is making a contribution to a charity in Canada -- and Greg's
art collection (My Sleepless Nights) went on exhibit for one night at Lot 66 in Canada. For more, visit www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com, click Canada
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY:
In the spring of 2005, Greg was honored at Princeton University. He
was honored as one of the nation's top social entrepreneurs under 40.
Before receiving the honor, Greg spoke at a special event co-sponsored
by nine clubs and organizations on campus. According to organizers,
the speech took place in a lecture hall formerly used by Albert
Einstein. To see photos and feedback from students, go to Princeton Event. In conjunction with that event, student organizers ordered copies of The First Thirty and donated them to students from a local high school who are mentored by Princeton students on a regular basis.
PROJECT THANK YOU: In response to Hurricane Katrina, Greg launched Project Thank You - as a way for people to make a difference in the Gulf Coast. Through Project Thank You,
students and adults alike can email thank you notes to First Responders
that are posted on the site for all to see. For more information, go
to www.ProjectThankYou.com
PSC:
At the age of 29, Greg delivered the Commencement at PSC. The event
was meaningful on a variety of levels. For one thing, it was the first
college graduation Greg had ever personally attended in his life.
Second, he was the youngest person ever invited to deliver the
Commencement at PSC. At the event, according to organizers, he also
became the youngest person to ever receive an honorary degree from the
community college. For more on Greg's speeches, go to Speeches
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RESTAURANTS: Greg has had extensive involvement with the Restaurant Community. For more, click HERE
ROCKVILLE BANK: The popular 'community bank' in Connecticut ordered 50 copies of The First Thirty
for 8th graders in their area. They also sponsored an essay contest
based on the book by providing a college scholarship for the winner of
a high school graduating class who had all received the book and had a
chance to write essays about it. For more on Rockville Bank, go to www.RockvilleBank.com
ROTARY CLUB: A number of Chapters of the internationally-known Rotary Club have incorporated The First Thirty into
their programming -- citing its emphasis on service to the community.
In Suffield, Connecticut, for instance, the Rotary Club provided dozens
of copies of the book for local high school students. In Thunder Bay,
Ontario, Canada, the Rotary Club did the same thing for students in
their community.
SCHINDLER'S LIST & NIGHT: In one high school English class, a teacher used Greg's story in conjunction with Schindler's List (directed by Steven Spielberg) and Night (by Elie Wiesel) for a unit on tolerance and diversity. To read essays subsequently written by students in that class, click on this link.
SENIOR LIFESTYLE CORPORATION: Senior Lifestyle Corporation -- the nation's sixth-largest senior living specialist -- ordered copies of The First Thirty
for some of its executives. They also booked Greg to speak at an event
for some SLC executives. In turn, after reading his copy, one of those
executives ordered 50 additional copies for staff members in his region
as gifts for MLK Day. For more on Greg's involvement with seniors and
those who care for them, click here
SERVICE WITH SENIOR CITIZENS In
early 1997, an impromptu walk led Greg into a facility for senior
citizens. Struck by the kindness and the wisdom of the people he met,
he returned every week for years. Along the way, more than 200 people -
mostly students and young professionals - joined him at least one
time. In 1998 and 1999, Greg was honored for the amount of time he
volunteered at the facility. For more on Greg's civic efforts, please
go to www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Website, click Civic
SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH MUSEUM:
Greg delivered the 2008 Legacy Lecture at the South African Jewish
Museum. His appearance was sponsored by South Africa-based King James
Group. In conjunction with the event, part of MySleeplessNights went
on display for the evening at the Museum. For more on the Museum,
please visit here For more on King James Group, visit here To see pics and feedback from the event, go to www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com and click South Africa
SPEECH RESPONSES: There
have been a number of instances when Greg's speeches received some
really unique responses. One night, Greg spoke at Boston College. At
the end of the night, he said he was thirsty and wanted to get a
milkshake. Much of the audience went with him, walking twelve blocks
through a rainstorm to do it. After a speech for an organization in
Canada, one of its members decided to personally sponsor Greg coming
back to their country to speak at another day of events the next
year. After a speech at the conclusion of a hotel Gala in Chicago,
Greg said he was thirsty and wanted to get a milkshake. Much of the
audience, decked out in suits and dresses, got up and left the hotel
and went with him. Similar things have happened after speeches in
places like California, New Jersey and Connecticut. For more on Greg's
speeches, go to www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Site, click Speeches.
STEVEN SPIELBERG: In
the press, Greg has been compared with a number of notable figures. One
of them is filmmaker Steven Spielberg. In publications like The Washington Post Co and Baltimore Sun, reporters
have examined the parallels between Greg and Spielberg's college
experiences and how those experiences shaped their lives. In some
cases, Greg's story (The First Thirty) has been used in classrooms in conjunction with Spielberg's film, Schindler's List).
TEACHERS:
Greg has been involved with Teaching on several levels. He personally
spent eight years after college working as a substitute teacher in the
public schools. He also taught a year of summer school. He has been a
guest speaker at a variety of events for educators and future educators. For instance, he was one of the speakers for the 2007 Teacher Institute (www.GregForbes.com,
click Enter Site, click Greg's Week, click March 07 Teacher Institute
to see pics/feedback) and spoke to faculty at St. John's University (www.GregForbes.com, click Enter Site, click Greg's Week, click Sept 07). He has also spoken at a variety of events for future educators. The First Thirty is
now used by a variety of Teacher Book Clubs and in classes for future
teachers. In one instance, a Principal ordered a copy for every teacher
(and staff member) at the school. The 11-10-02 Foundation has
funded an extensive series of grants to help recognize teachers for
dedication and excellence. As one example, 11-10-02 provided $500 to
help an outstanding Science teacher get more supplies needed for class.
In another instance, 11-10-02 sponsored a brunch for more than 50
outstanding teachers. In addition, Greg has raised the funds to create
grants in honor of teachers (Kindergarten through College) who
personally impacted his life. For more information, please visit www.TheFirstThirty.com, click About the Story, click Educators/Future Educators
THE FIRST THIRTY INCORPORATED INTO CLASSES: A variety of classes at schools around North America have been using The First Thirty and/or A Place To Sit in their curriculum and programs. In some instances, such as this middle school class in New York, The First Thirty became part of their weekly reading - with the book's thirty lessons making their way onto the classroom wall. For more on The First Thirty, see www.TheFirstThirty.com
THE T.M. FOUNDATION: TMF ordered copies of The First Thirty for its Board of Directors and some of its supporters.
THE WASHINGTON POST CO: The
well-known media outlet ran a feature story on the parallels between
the obstacles overcome by -- and legacies and visions of -- Greg and
filmmaker Steven Spielberg. For more on media, clivk here
TOURISM, VISITORS, CONVENTIONS & CHAMBERS:
A number of organizations devoted to tourism, visitors and conventions
have collaborated with Greg in different ways. In one instance, for
example, the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce was a prominent
sponsor of the Valley Business Conference in 2006, which brought Greg
to speak at their event. The Green Tourism Association and the Alton
Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau both ordered copies of The First Thirty for their staffers. For more on these two groups, see www.tourgreen.ca and www.VisitAlton.com , respectively. For more on the story's connection to the industry, please visit www.TheFirstThirty.com, click About the Story, then click F&B/Hotels/Restaurants - which also provides information related to Tourism.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: The Toronto Blue Jays generously ordered copies of The First Thirty for selected students in Toronto. Visit: www.WorldsGreatestPlaces.com, click Canada.
TRIATHLON:
After four operations on his feet, Greg remained determined to complete
a triathlon. He achieved his goal in October 2008 -- when he
participated in (and completed) his first triathlon. He did it on two
weeks notice without any formal training. In those two weeks leading
up to the race, a number of great companies and individuals came on
board to support Greg's efforts -- led by NIKE. Others included:
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company, Running Away
Multisport, Sentry Foods, Machinery Row Bicycles, T-Shirt Deli, and
Barbara Fine (Past President, Chicago Dietetic Association). For more,
go to www.GregForbes.com and click Health/Fitness
U OF C HOSPITALS:
Greg keynoted the 2006 Annual Volunteer Banquet for U of C Hospitals.
The evening's other speakers included Michelle Obama (VP for Community
& External Affairs, U of C Hospitals). In conjunction with the
event, organizers ordered hundreds of copies of The First Thirty for the volunteers in attendance. In addition, part of Greg's art collection - MySleeplessNights.com - went on display at the hospital for the evening. To see pictures and feedback from the event, click here.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: The
Multicultural Development Office at TIU organizes an annual trip for
students to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum in Ohio. In
the fall of 2006, the MDO ordered copies of The First Thirty for
all the students to read on the six hour bus ride en route to the
Museum...to help them further appreciate how the Museum and those
featured within it can inspire them in positive directions - even if
they come from much different racial, cultural or social backgrounds. (The First Thirty
highlights the impact that Harriet Tubman and other historic and
cinematic figures had on Greg's efforts to bring people together of
different cultures and backgrounds while he was in school and
afterwards.). For more on the story's connection to civil rights, go
to www.TheFirstThirty.com, click About the Story, then click Civil Rights
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS:
Greg accepted an invitation to make his first ever visit to the Lone
Star State and speak to new undergraduates in UT-Austin's Greek system
about the college experience, the situations they'll be faced with and
how they will be impacted by the decisions they make.
USA TODAY: On
9-11, Greg was substitute teaching at a grade school in Chicago. Given
what had occurred, he abandoned the day's lesson plan and spent the day
teaching students about tolerance and diversity. The USA Today
did a nice article about the efforts made by Greg and other educators
in trying to help students understand the horror of what occurred on
that day.
VICTORIA INN HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER: The
popular Canada hotel ordered copies of The FIrst Thirty as gifts for
some of their top clients, instituting The First Thirty Pillowcase
Project - which grew out of The First Thirty Elevator Project. For
more on this, visit www.TheFirstThirty.com, click Elevator Project.
WILMA'S SCOOP DUJOUR: The ice cream shop purchased copies of The First Thirty for juniors at a high school in Connecticut.
WISCONSIN:
Greg has an extensive history in Wisconsin on a personal and work
level. As a child, he spent his summers in Wisconsin. As an adult, he
has been a guest speaker at a variety of schools in Wisconsin including
a middle school, three high schools and a university. He also spoke at
an event for senior citizens in Wisconsin. A number of companies and
schools in Wisconsin have utilized Greg's books as well -- for
instance, Kickapoo Homes of Viroqua ordered copies of The First Thirty
for some students in their local community. Greg's first triathlon was
in Wisconsin, too.
WRITING & LITERATURE SCHOLARSHIPS: The
11-10-02 Foundation funded a series of college scholarships for
students studying Writing and Literature in Vermont. For more on The
11-10-02 Foundation, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org
WRITING FOR MAGAZINES:
Greg has written for a variety of magazines - with articles published
in places like US, Canada and Africa. For more on his writing, see www.GregForbes.com, click Writing
YAHOO!
The internet-related magazine featured the website for Greg's charity
as an example of the internet being used to accomplish positive goals.
For more on The 11-10-02 Foundation, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org
YAMS, INC: California-based nonprofit organization YAMS, Inc (Youth Against MS) ordered copies of The First Thirty
for their Board of Directors and top donors. Founder & CEO Kaley
Zeitouni noted, "After reading about Greg's story online, and being
inspired by the incredible parallels in our lives, I think this book
would be the perfect way to continue to motivate our volunteers and
Board of Directors to continue to fight MS since that is what first
inspired Greg to do everything he has done. We will also be giving the
books to our most consistent sponsors over the years in order to thank
them for believing in us from the beginning." For more on this
inspiring group, check out www.YouthAgainstMS.org
ZETA BETA TAU: In 2001, Zeta Beta Tau honored Greg as its youngest ever Man of Distinction. Four years later, ZBT chose The First Thirty for a National Staff-wide reading. They then ordered copies of The First Thirty
for all of the attendees at their National Convention on Leadership and
Philanthropy and booked Greg to keynote the event. To see pics from the
event, click Here . For more on ZBT, go to www.ZetaBetaTau.org
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