Family sells million-dollar home for charity
SEATTLE -- A father and daughter from Atlanta were in Seattle Tuesday night to share an inspiring story that started with a dinnertime challenge to sell their house and give half the profits away.
It was the Salwen's dream house -- a spacious mansion worth more than $1 million.
"I had an elevator in my room," said Hannah Salwen.
But one day with her dad, 14-year-old Hannah saw something that changed the way they live.
"I saw a homeless man holding up a sign saying, 'homeless, please help,' " she said. "And then I looked to my right and I saw a man in a Mercedes coupe."
Then, a thought crossed her mind.
"I said to my dad, if that man in the Mercedes didn't have such a nice car, then the homeless man over there could have a meal," Hannah said.
To which her father responded, " 'Well, if we didn't have such a nice car that man could have a meal', 'cause I wanted her to understand that a lot of this is within our control," Kevin Salwen said.
Hannah had already volunteered at food banks and shelters, but that night she was angry and wanted her family to quit talking at the table and go make a difference.
"And my mom, in a fit of frustration, said 'What do you want to do? Wanna sell the house?' And I said, 'yeah,' " Hannah said.
So they packed up and moved into a house half the size and decided to donate half the sale price.
"I don't think we set out to become obnoxious consuming yuppies," Kevin said. "We just were."
The Salwens decided to give $800,000 to The Hunger Project, helping more than 20 villages in Africa. It's a gesture that required a lot of communication, trust, and sacrifice.
"We're at a time with kids, teens shooting off in different directions and yet our family has never been closer," Kevin Salwen said.
Together, they learned it's not about giving until it hurts, it's about giving until it feels good.
Kevin and Hannah turned their story into a book called "The Power of Half."
It was the Salwen's dream house -- a spacious mansion worth more than $1 million.
"I had an elevator in my room," said Hannah Salwen.
But one day with her dad, 14-year-old Hannah saw something that changed the way they live.
"I saw a homeless man holding up a sign saying, 'homeless, please help,' " she said. "And then I looked to my right and I saw a man in a Mercedes coupe."
Then, a thought crossed her mind.
"I said to my dad, if that man in the Mercedes didn't have such a nice car, then the homeless man over there could have a meal," Hannah said.
To which her father responded, " 'Well, if we didn't have such a nice car that man could have a meal', 'cause I wanted her to understand that a lot of this is within our control," Kevin Salwen said.
Hannah had already volunteered at food banks and shelters, but that night she was angry and wanted her family to quit talking at the table and go make a difference.
"And my mom, in a fit of frustration, said 'What do you want to do? Wanna sell the house?' And I said, 'yeah,' " Hannah said.
So they packed up and moved into a house half the size and decided to donate half the sale price.
"I don't think we set out to become obnoxious consuming yuppies," Kevin said. "We just were."
The Salwens decided to give $800,000 to The Hunger Project, helping more than 20 villages in Africa. It's a gesture that required a lot of communication, trust, and sacrifice.
"We're at a time with kids, teens shooting off in different directions and yet our family has never been closer," Kevin Salwen said.
Together, they learned it's not about giving until it hurts, it's about giving until it feels good.
Kevin and Hannah turned their story into a book called "The Power of Half."