Hannah’s Lunchbox

Posted on 09. Feb, 2010 by admin in Youth

Seventeen-year-old Hannah Salwen inspired her family to sell their $1.5 million home and downsize so they could focus on fighting hunger and poverty in Africa, and now their story is being told around the world and through their new book and website “The Power of Half.”

Seventeen-year-old Hannah Salwen co-authored the book "The Power of Half" with her father Kevin, a former Wall Street Journal reporter.

Like most teens, 17-year-old Hannah Salwen loves to shop and has a closet full of clothes. But the Antebellum mansion she and her family have called home for the last decade shocked her friends when they would come over to visit. “You live here?” her friends would ask about the huge 6,200-square-foot home.

Hannah is a junior in high school and is a member of the varsity volleyball and swimming teams. Since fifth grade, she has been volunteering, working at Cafe 458, a restaurant that serves homeless people, and at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

One day while driving with her father, Hannah Salwen saw a Mercedes stopped next to a homeless man sitting on the curb. “I said to my dad, ‘If that guy didn’t have such a nice car, then that guy could have a nice meal,’ ” Hannah recalls.

Hannah has always had a passion for helping others and regularly volunteers at the local homeless shelter, but she recently approached her family telling them she wanted to do something more. Hannah and her mother discussed her concerns and came up with an idea—to sell their 6,200 square foot Antebellum mansion in Atlanta, Georgia. After some discussion, the family decided to sell their home, to downsize and use the money to fight poverty and hunger in Africa.

The Salwen Family

The Salwen family says on their website:
“We realize that we’re not unusual in the arena of volunteerism—it blows us away how generous people are with their time. We all hold great admiration for people who dedicate themselves to a cause and put their money and time where their mouths are. Hannah once said that she most admires Mother Teresa because she lived her beliefs. Selling our house and giving up some of our possessions is a far cry from the sacrifice of Mother Teresa. When it comes to aligning our actions with our passions and beginning to help affect change, we are just getting started.”

Watch a video clip of the Today Show interview with the Salwen Family on the Making a Difference Today segment:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

To learn more visit:
www.thepowerofhalf.com
www.hannahslunchbox.com