The power of half : one family's decision to stop taking and start giving back

It all started when fourteen-year-old Hannah Salwen had a eureka moment. Seeing a homeless man in her neighborhood at the same instant she spotted a man driving a glistening Mercedes, she said, "Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal." Until that day, the Salwens had been caught up like so many of us in the classic American dream—providing a good life for their children, accumulating more and more stuff, doing their part to help others but not really feeling it. So when Hannah was stopped in her tracks by this glaring disparity, her parents knew they had to act on her urge to do something. As a family, they made the extraordinary decision to sell their Atlanta mansion, buy a house half its size, and give half of the sale price to a worthy charity. At first it seemed outlandish: What, are we crazy? Then it became a challenge: We are totally doing this . Their plan eventually took them across the globe and well out of their...

it All Started When 14-year Old Hannah Salwen, Idealistic But Troubled By A Growing Sense Of Injustice, Had A Eureka Moment When She Saw A Homeless Man Juxtaposed Against A Glistening Mercedes Coupe. You Know, Dad, She Said, If That Man Had A Less Nice Car, That Man There Could Have A Meal. This Glaring Led The Salwen Family Of Four, Caught Up Like So Many Other Americans In This Age Of Consumption And Waste, To Follow Hannah's Urge To Do Something--so They Embarked On An Incredible Journey Together. They Decided To Sell Their Atlanta Mansion, Buy A House Half Its Size, And Give Half Their Profits To Charity. At First It Was An Outlandish Scheme, Then It Became A Challenge: We Are Totally Doing This. Each Week They Met Over Dinner To Discuss Their Plan--which Would Transport Them Across The Globe And Well Out Of Their Comfort Zone, And Bring Them Closer As A Family.--from Publisher Description.

the Washington Post - Lisa Bonos

…in the Power Of Half, Kevin Salwen And Young Hannah Stress That Families Don't Have To Slice A Mcmansion In Half To Make A Difference. Their Book, Soaring In Idealism And Yet Grounded In Realism, Can Show Americans Of Any Means How Best To Give Back. Most Of Us, They Point Out, Have An Excess Of Something—whether It's Clothes In Our Closets, Food In Our Pantries Or Free Time On A Saturday—that Can Somehow Help Someone Else.

It all started when fourteen-year old Hannah Salwen had a eureka moment. Seeing a homeless man in her neighborhood at the precise second a glistening Mercedes coupe pulled up, she said You know, Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal. Until that day, the Salwens had been caught up like so many of us in the classic American dreamproviding a good life for their children, accumulating more and more stuff, doing their part but not really feeling it. So when Hannah was stopped in her tracks by this glaring disparity, her parents knew they had to act on her urge to do something. As a family, they made the extraordinary decision to sell their Atlanta mansion, downsize to a house half its size, and give half of the sale price to a worthy charity. What began as an outlandish scheme became a remarkable journey that transported them across the globe and well out of their comfort zone. In the end they learned that they had the power to change a little corner of the worldand they found themselves changing, too. Are we raising consumers or citizens? You don't know till you listen Deal or no deal The power of half If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there Outside the comfort zone What do we do? In the villages Transformation observed Epilogue: Hannah's take : keeping track of your project. The treadmill You don't know till you listen Deal or no deal The power of half If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there Outside the comfort zone What do we do? In the villages Transformation observed.