The First Thirty and its companion workbook (A Place To Sit) have inspired some truly unique responses from people of all ages, races, cultures and backgrounds. We are not aware of each INSPIRATION, nor can we list all the ones we have heard about, but this is a fun sample of different ways that schools/organizations/companies/conferences/teams have used the books and some of the unique 'inspirations' that have happened along the way:
== ACTS OF KINDNESS: Dr. Santhos Valloppillil learned about The First Thirty when someone was helping him move furniture. Struck by the fact that the book's lessons inspired someone to commit this act of kindness, Dr. Valloppillil purchased a stack of copies - keeping one for himself and asking that the others be given to complete strangers who commit random acts of kindness. In each of the copies, Dr. Valloppillil wrote a note on the first page that read: "Pass on the lessons learned from this book." A few months into later, a businessman in NY purchased 50 copies with the request that they be given from 'Anonymous' to people who commit acts of kindness
== BISTRO PROVENCE: A French restauranteur in Florida, Claudine Mourjan, read her son's copy of The First Thirty cover-to-cover in one day. Later that same day, she purchased 100 additional copies. She sent in word that she is giving them out to members of her staff at Bistro Provence, her top customers and donating some of them to a local school.
== BOOK CLUB: After reading The First Thirty, former NBC sitcom staffer, Ronna Belinky, bought every copy of the book at her local Borders. Then, she went one town over and bought every copy of the book at that Borders. She gave them out to friends and formed her own Book Club based on the book.
== CD ONE PRICE CLEANERS: The folks in charge at CD One Price Cleaners (outstanding, reliable dry cleaning at a great price!) learned about The First Thirty. Within an hour, they'd ordered 50 copies of The First Thirty to give out to members of the staff at their multiple stores in Chicago, as holiday gifts.
== CENTERPOINT ATHLETIC CLUB: The California-based health club purchased copies of The First Thirty for local high school students
== CHARITY: After reading The First Thirty, a couple in Arizona - Al & Cynthia Shapiro -- were inspired by the story's emphasis on philanthropy and made a donation to charity in honor of one of the book's most beloved characters (Grandma).
== CLASS PHILANTHROPY PROJECT: After reading The First Thirty, longtime educator Bari Levin incorporated the book and its companion workbook into her 6th grade class, ordered a copy of the poster to put on her classroom wall, started a Book Club for educators in her area revolving around the book, felt inspired to make a donation to charity and spearheaded a philanthropy project with her students (her middle school students raising the funds to help a need-based student in another community)
== COMMENCEMENT GIFTS: After reading The First Thirty, a man named Dr. Matt Conway (head of MyTownHall.info) co-sponsored the purchase of copies of the book for every single student in the graduating class at the local high school. (In turn, another company - Rockville Bank - was inspired to sponsor a college scholarship for an essay contest based on the book for those graduates).
== FEEDBACK: Many of those who have been inspired by The First Thirty have expressed their feelings by sending in a review. To read a sample of those, click Reviews & Press. If you've read the book and have feedback to share, email it to Feedback@TheFirstThirty.com
== FERMI HIGH SCHOOL: Principal Paul Newton sent in word that he cried three times while reading the book. Upon finishing it, he ordered 100 copies for his school and booked Greg (upon whom the book is based) to come speak to his staff and students.
== GNC LIVE WELL: The head of a local branch of the popular health & nutrition store ordered copies of The First Thirty for his staff as a holiday gift -- citing the story's emphasis on living in a positive way and working collaboratively with those around you
== IN CONJUNCTION WITH: Various schools around the country have been using Greg's story (now the basis for The First Thirty) in conjunction with stories such as Schindler's List, Tuesdays with Morrie, Night, Homer's Odyssey, Americans All, Makes Me Wanna Holler and Hurricane.
== INCREASING RACIAL & CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: After an incident involving racial and cultural insensitivity, a Midwest chapter of a college organization decided to do an internal and external project involving The First Thirty. Citing the book's emphasis on breaking down stereotypes and respecting other cultures, they ordered copies of the book to read themselves. They also ordered thirty copies to donate to local youth (with the plan to then volunteer their time working with those kids and discussing the book's lessons). They said their goal was to learn more about these issues so they didn't repeat their mistakes, and to share the story and its lessons with the kids so they didn't make those same mistakes at all
== MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The NFL team purchased copies of The First Thirty for local middle school students and sponsored an essay contest based on the book for them
== NEW YORK BOOK SIGNING: After a speech by Greg in New York, two different women in the audience whom he had never met each purchased 50 copies of the book
== NEW YORK GIANTS: The NFL team and its star running back, Tiki Barber, sponsored an essay contest based on The First Thirty for teens in New York
== NORTH COMMUNITY BANK: The Chicago-based bank ordered copies to give to kids in Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Katrina -- citing the story's emphasis on how to deal with obstacles.
== PEACE CORPS: A 34 year old businesswoman in Virginia, Karen Mankin, sent in word that The First Thirty and its message about pursuing your passion in life helped inspire her to move to Namibia (Africa) to work in the Peace Corps for two years.
== PHILANTHROPY PROJECT: A college student in Florida sends in word that, after reading the book, he and his fraternity brothers increased their philanthropic efforts with the Children's Miracle Network and 'adopted a road' in their community.
== TUFTS UNIVERSITY: The ZBT fraternity at Tufts University ordered copies of The First Thirty and donated them to the local Boys & Girls Club as part of their Philanthropy efforts.
== U of C HOSPITALS: UCH ordered 200 copies of The First Thirty to give out to some of its top volunteers
== UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER: UWW incorporated The First Thirty into a course on Race & Culture
== YOUTH PHILANTHROPY PROJECT: After reading the book as part of a Leadership Convention for fraternity members, a college student from Illinois named Max ordered thirty additional copies of The First Thirty and donated them to the local YMCA, who in turn, indicated they have made the books the centerpiece of its Middle School curriculum
