Civic

Greg's civic and philanthropic experiences can be traced back to the first book he ever purchased with his own money (a children's biography of Harriet Tubman). The book inspired him to want to make a difference. A few weeks later, he signed up for a Read-a-Thon (raising funds to help fight a disease). Over the next few years, through the Read-a-Thon, he raised thousands of dollars in the process. Throughout his high school years, he volunteered with local kids through a variety of youth centers, camps and athletic leagues.

During Greg's time in college, he became increasingly active in civic efforts. He volunteered at local schools off-campus, launched a program that brought his classmates into the community with him, volunteer taught former gang members trying to get their GEDs, interned on Capitol Hill and was appointed by the Dean to the position of Student Chairman of Community Service for the college he attended.   His interest in the community also influenced his academic experience -- choosing classes like Civil Rights and writing papers on topics like Native American culture and heritage.

After college, Greg took one year to work as a public school substitute teacher (One year turned into eight). Since then, he also has served as Scholar (or Writer or Artist) in Residence for schools and programs in the US, Canada and Africa. On a number of occasions, he has served as Honorary Principal for a Day at a school.

  Greg established a program to volunteer with senior citizens. More than 200 people gave more than 800 hours of their time as part of the program.

MENTORING

 Each weekend, for the next 243 consecutive weekends, he coordinated and hosted brunches for up to 25 people (students and adult mentors, like those pictured left), followed by an athletic activity like basketball or rockwall climbing, or a volunteer activity like visiting senior citizens.   More than 700 people attended at least one of the brunches.  

After Greg's first 100 consecutive weeks of brunch, Good Morning America buried a Time Capsule which included a video narrated by Diane Sawyer about the program. For more, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.com and click Enter Here

In addition to the brunches, Greg has hosted (or co-hosted) events around the world designed to bring people of different races, cultures and backgrounds together. The groups have ranged in size from 5 to 500. The events have included dinners, galas, parties and a film premiere. They have taken place in cities throughout the USA, Canada and Africa. For more, please visit www.ShakingUpAmerica.com

PHILANTHROPY

CANCER-RELATED CAUSES

In addition to his primary civic and philanthropic efforts involving diversity and education, Greg has been involved in various ways with other causes like cancer.   This support has taken various forms including: (1) participation in Jarrett's Joy Cart in Kentucky, (2) establishing The 11-10-02 Foundation Scholarships for students studying medicine and nursing (3) establishing scholarships in honor of an individual with cancer, as well as additional scholarships in honor of the individuals who support someone with cancer, (4) speaking at hospitals and other locations like  an event for staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, (5) shining a positive light on those who fight cancer through articles he has written for magazines, and (6) completing his first Triathlon on the anniversary of a friend passing from cancer (pictured, left).

Thirty years after first being inspired by some of his favorite books, Greg has been involved with a number of literacy-related projects, including: serving as one of the speakers at the 2009 National Conference on Family Literacy in Florida and taking part in the READ campaign for libraries in Colorado.

Above and beyond his own foundation's efforts, Greg has collaborated with an extensive number of companies, teams, organizations and schools on civic, volunteer and philanthropic projects.  In Minnesota, for instance, Greg collaborated with the Minnesota Vikings on a community service essay contest based on a speech by Greg at a school in Minnesota and The First Thirty (the book based on Greg's story, which the students were reading in class).  He collaborated with the New York Giants on a similar project in New York.   In Connecticut, he collaborated with Rockville Bank on a project in which the bank generously provided a scholarship to a local college-bound student who won an essay contest there.  In some cases, he has been asked to serve as a resource for advice and consultation for others who are engaged in civic, volunteer and philanthropic efforts.