Help to 'Cultivate Kindness' by Helping This Children's Book Get Published

A children’s book is being published to honor the memory of a little boy whose life was cut short on the eve of Hurricane Sandy, but the publisher needs your help.

“A Little Rees Specht Cultivates Kindness,” a children’s book written by Rich Specht, a father who lost his 22-month-old son Rees in a tragic accident in the backyard pond, follows the adventures of a young farmer named Little Rees Specht who discovers that kindness is a seed that needs to be cultivated in order to spread. 

The Specht family, of Sound Beach, hope to publish the book themselves, and have taken to the crowd-funding site Indiegogo to raise the funds. 

“The idea for ‘A Little Rees Specht Cultivates Kindness’ came to me while I was teaching,” wrote Rich on his blog ReesSprechtLife.com. “I felt like I had the perfect idea for a story that would tie Rees’ love of tractors with the movement that we started in his name.” 

In addition to the book, the Spechts have established a foundation in Rees’ name, called ReesSpecht Life Foundation, with the goal of “reminding people of the importance of community, compassion and civility.”

“We believe we can make this world a better place, one Rees’ Piece at a time,” reads Rich’s website.

So far, the family has raised $10,780 out of their goal of $20,000 from money culled from the donations of 193 funders. The fundraising campaign is live on Indiegogo until June 18. 

Help Honor Rees by Donating to the Cause: Help the Spechts reach their goal of $20,000 by June 18. Contribute as much or as little as you can to help get the book published and 'cultivate kindness.' Visit the Spechts' Indiegogo campaign for more information.