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GREG FORBES SIEGMAN
COMMUNITY SERVICE - VOLUNTEERING - PUBLIC SERVICE
BACKGROUND: The First Thirty is based on the true story of Greg Forbes Siegman, his efforts to make a difference, and the first thirty things learned from the people and places he encountered (and setbacks and successes he experienced) along the way. Most of the book focuses on Community Service and Volunteering. It highlights the people, places and things that helped further his interest in Community Service and Volunteering. It also focuses on what he learns from the people, places and things coming into his life as a result of his efforts in Community Service and Volunteering. Greg is now asked to speak with schools, parent groups, nonprofit organizations, companies, conferences and at other events on topics like Community Service and Volunteering (including: the value of getting more involved in volunteerism & service, what you &/or your organization can do to get others in your community as involved as you are; and the extraordinary value of a small act of kindness - and the ripple effect from it - in a world where it seems such volunteerism/service would be worth little) . The First Thirty is now used by groups, schools, clubs, teams, organizations and companies who are engaged in Community Service and Volunteering, or who are interested in using the books as part of a Philanthropy project in conjunction with their Community Service and Volunteering.
FURTHER BACKGROUND: Greg first began volunteering in grade school, middle school and high school. In college, he launched a mentoring program which brought his classmates into local schools nearby the university and served as a Summer Intern on Capitol Hill. As a result of those experiences and the positive things that grew out of it, he was appointed by the Dean to the position of Student Chairman of Community Service for the entire college. After college, Greg postponed his interests in corporate America, law school and film school to devote himself completely to working in the community. He signed up to become a substitute teacher for one year (one year that turned into eight). During that time, he also launched a Senior Service Program that involved 200 people volunteering more than 700 hours with senior citizens; he launched the BrunchBunch.org Mentoring Program - which involved more than 700 people. Greg personally volunteered his time to coordinate and host the first 243 consecutive weekly brunches (every single weekend between March 1997 and November 2001); he also founded and volunteers his time as Chairman of The 11-10-02 Foundation, which provides grants and scholarships to students and the schools which they attend. Through these endeavors, in addition to volunteering years of his own time, Greg has overseen the volunteer service of thousands of other people.
RELATED NOTE: Greg's art collection, My Sleepless Nights, features his portraits of the people and characters who inspired his interest in volunteerism and public service. The collection has been featured in Art World News and has been on display in places like California, New York, Chicago and Canada.
BIO - Greg's Bio -
BOOK SUMMARY: One page synopsis of The First Thirty
Sample of HONORS & MEDIA:
== Good Morning America buried a Time Capsule chronicling some of Greg's volunteer efforts after college
== Jefferson Award for Public Service (youngest adult in the nation honored at National Jefferson Awards)
== America's Daily Point of Light
== The NonProfit Times did a cover story on Greg's volunteer efforts
== Volunteer Leadership Magazine, Washington Post Co, Education Week, NBC, College News, National Public Radio among the others covering Greg's volunteer efforts
== Honored at Princeton University as one of nation's top social entrepreneurs under 40.
== One of Hasbro's 30 'real-life American heroes'
== CBS Tylenol Hometown Hero
== Simply Family's Heroes of the Year
== Honorary Principal for Day
== Honored on multiple occasions for time spent volunteering at local schools, with Senior Citizens
EXAMPLE OF RELEVANT SPEECHES:
== Keynoted an event for hundreds of volunteers, donors of United Way in Canada
== Greg keynoted the 66th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet for U of C Hospitals
.== Greg (and John Sculley - former CEO of Apple & IBM) spoke at the Valley Business Conference. Greg was asked to discuss the civic and social applications of business (essentially, why it's good for business for you and your staff to be good to the community). Event was sponsored by Chamber of Commerce and more than 40 corporations, schools and media outlets.
== Keynoted Global Fair for teens in New Hampshire - focus on the value of small acts of service and kindness, even when working on 'global' issues
== Keynoted annual event on Community Service/Volunteerism/Philanthropy, hosted by local Mayors in Minnesota
== Keynote event for top donors of Menorah Park in Ohio - focus on what they can do to get their kids and neighbors as involved as they are
== Keynoted Parent Event at Temple Am Shalom - focus on what they can do to get their kids as involved as they are
== Invited to speak about service/volunteerism to college students on various campuses around the country - such as Fresno City College, Princeton University, College of St. Catherine, University of Texas-Austin, George Washington Universit
== University of Missouri - St. Louis Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program received copies of The First Thirty for a staff-wide reading
== UofC Hospitals ordered hundreds of copies of The First Thirty to give out as thank you gifts to those who perform community service through the hospitals' various internal and external programs.
== Multiple Chapters of Rotary Club (such as ones based in Suffield, CT and Thunder Bay, Ontario) have ordered copies of The First Thirty for local students, to help them learn more about philanthropy and service. Andover Lions Club did the same thing in Minnesota.
== Scotiabank sponsored a community service essay contest based on The First Thirty for Middle School & High School students in Canada
== YMCA branch in Chicago selects The First Thirty as the centerpiece for their Middle School curriculum
== The nonprofit organization, One by One Leadership, ordered copies of The First Thirty to give to top supporters/volunteers.
== New York Giants (NFL) sponsored a community service essay contest based on the book for high school students in NY.
== In Minnesota, the (NFL) Vikings ordered copies of the book for local students and sponsored a community service essay contest based on the book for them as well
SAMPLE OF FEEDBACK FROM GREG'S SPEECHES: "...Our Breakfast is hosted annually by a Mayor from one of the cities involved in our Joint Powers Agreement. This year...we had over 350 attendees that come from all areas of the community: city and county employees, law enforcement, public school staff, faith based organizations, administrators and youth...It was unbelieveable how Greg catered to every goal we had for the event, the organization and the coming year. He was enlightening, entertaining and passionate with his message. He truly engaged the entire audience...attendees still are calling to say, this was one of the best events we have held. We thank Greg for helping us to focus on the world outside 'our' window. It was a pleasure to work with him..." -- Jan R. Pomeroy, Program Coordinator, 11th Annual Mayors' Youth First Breakfast (Minnesota)
"I really enjoyed Greg's speech. It was truly inspirational. It has taught me that it is really the little things that matter to make a difference in people's lives. For the longest time, I have been thinking of how I can actually make a difference and now I know that whatever I do, I just have to start small...I thank him for helping me to realize that!!...Now, for the past few days I have been thinking about the speech, and...how I could get involved in community service projects or just ways that I can make a difference. Also, after hearing Greg speak, I am now hoping to sign up for the Public Speaking class next year." -Liana, High school student, New Hampshire [NOTE: She later sent in word about the service projects she got involved in] :)
"Bishop Gallagher was thrilled to have Greg come to visit our students and speak at an all-school assembly. Most of the classes were well into the book, The First Thirty, and they were thrilled to meet the [main] "character" [from the book]. Greg's message of making a difference in the world outside your window was extremely well received and links into so many of our stewardship and volunteerism lessons and activities within our school...." - Jackie Fredrickson, Administrator, Bishop Gallagher School (Catholic Middle School in Canada)
"...A moving and inspirational message....Students still bring it up in class discussions as we discuss notions of hero in our reading of the Odyssey. An unforgettable story like his and the courage he had to forego a lucrative career to help others is not one that fades away in the hearts and minds of those of us who desire to make change in our world. I encourage him to keep fighting the good fight and to continue creating hope in the lives of so many." --Carlo Trovato, High School Teacher
"I wrote an essay about Greg for a course I am taking -- comparing his story and what he's done with Ralph Waldo Emerson's book Experience, and one of Gandhi's philosophies about small actions leading to big things." -- Andrew Schaffer, Boston College student
"I'm in the school of management here and hearing him talk was extremely helpful because I sometimes struggle with the idea of possibly making a lot of money in the future...and still staying grounded in my beliefs such as helping others -- which is more of how I see myself...everyone I talked to loved the speech -- definitely worth the time." --Micah, Boston College student (MA)
SAMPLE OF REVIEWS OF THE FIRST THIRTY:
"Any man, woman, child with an idea or dream HAS to read this book. Not only will it give them hope, it will inspire them to do more than they could have ever imagined. Throughout my life, I have spent countless hours volunteering in the nonprofit sector. Not only did the book resonate with my experiences, it has encouraged me to do more and accomplish more." - Lindsay K. Walls, Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program, University of Missouri-St. Louis
"...I am just starting a career, and am at a critical point in choosing where I will take it. I have always looked at my career in terms of finding the right balance of [how much I enjoy myself and how much money I make]. Reading The First Thirty has modified my view of success to include the interaction I have with the people around me." - David Cramer, Allstate
"The First Thirty illustrates the responsibilities we have as parents, grandparents, teachers and business leaders to influence the people around us...Every teacher should make The First Thirty required reading. It's William Saroyan for the next generation." - Sam Geil, Parent and Company President, California
"The message is infectious, it will motivate you to get out of your chair and make a difference." - Lucy Ruiz, CBS 47, Community Services Director
"A refreshing reminder that each of us can -- and should -- be open to the world beyond our window while changing the world within it." -- Morgan, High School Student (Texas)
For more on Greg, go to www.GregForbes.com
For more on the book, go to www.TheFirstThirty.com
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