ANDERSON —Andrew Zimmerman Jones is taking his Lenten sacrifice to his wallet.

Through March 28, the 33-year-old Anderson writer will donate his gross income to charity.

He is an assessment editor for CTB/McGraw Hill, creating customized tests for junior high and high school education assessment for various states. He is also the physics content editor for About.com, and a published author.

“Any money that comes to me in these 40 days is turned around and given out in some way to other people — charities, individuals,” said Jones. “If you’re around Anderson I might show up at the gas station while you’re pumping gas and offer to pay for it, and just see what happens. It’s based on the idea that it is better to give than to receive.

“That’s a hypothesis that’s testable. That’s why I call it an experiment. I’m somewhat of a skeptical person, but I also think I’m fairly generous, and there’s part of me that does believe when you do something good it comes back to you. Being a skeptical person, let’s put it to the test.”



Thinking of ‘40’

Jones developed the concept when looking for an idea for a new book. He wanted a project that wasn’t as rigorous to research as his “String Theory For Dummies.”

A new title, “40 Days of Giving,” came to him.

“The whole idea is for 40 days to immerse myself in the idea of giving.”

The timing of the experiment was obvious. “You begin thinking ‘40 days,’ and immediately Lent pops in your head,” he said. “So I decided to start on Ash Wednesday.”

The first week was a challenge.

“It started a couple days after my last paycheck, so that check is set aside to help with bills over the course of the experiment. My next paychecks all go toward charity, but I get an eight- to nine-day window where I have no income to give away, so I’m having to be charitable on a budget.”

He set up an account with Heifer International, a not-for-profit that helps people in poverty situations become self-sustainable by providing livestock and the training for how to care for the animals.

To draw in donations, Jones has pledged to donate his hair — approximately two feet in length after 10 years with no more than a trim cut — to Locks of Love, a public nonprofit that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

There’s a catch, though — the hair donation is based on raising $10,000 for Heifer International.

Jones set up a blog to chronicle his experiment. Donations to Heifer International can be made through 40daysofgiving.blogspot.com.

His online journal contains daily entries. Jones is also keeping a Facebook page that updates 150 fans information about his experiment.

Closer relationships

His wife, Amber Jones, 25, is supportive of the project.

“At first, I was a little apprehensive, because we’ve always given 10 percent, but to give everything when you have a brand new baby kind of scared me,” she said.

They are the parents of two boys, Elijah, 4, and Gideon, 4 months.

“I asked him what he wanted out of this. We’re both spiritual, but

I’m more of a religious minds.

“I’m looking at it more as deepening a relationship with a higher power. We’re going into it a little bit differently.”

Early in the effort, they approached a supermarket shopper, offering to pay entirely for their groceries. They were turned down.

On Wednesday, however, they handed out gift cards at a local grocery, giving out 12 cards valued each $20, before being asked to leave the property. The couple was no discouraged.

Andrew noted, “Hopefully the experiment will show as an example that it actually does come back in some way to benefit you. Maybe that will have an impact on someone else who hasn’t taken the time.”

Amber added, “I’d really like to encourage people to follow the blog and give their input.

“Anything they’re doing that we might like to try out. We’re looking for more things to do.”

Suggestions for acts can be made through the blog at www.40daysofgiving.blogspot.com.