Dear KOM-ers!
We’re so happy to feature a new book giveaway!
Please enjoy this excerpt from “Kindness Heroes: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things” by Jackie Kurtz.
There are 2 ways to enter to win a FREE signed copy:
- Leave a comment below with your email address (so we can contact you)
- Email us at KOMWriting@gmail.com with the Subject: Kindness Heroes giveaway entry
The winner will be randomly selected on 6/1/26 and announced on our website and social media. *
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In a world often overwhelmed by negativity and division, Kindness Heroes offers something we all need: hope. This powerful and heartwarming collection shares true stories of ordinary people who choose to care, show up, and create positive ripples in their communities.
These aren’t celebrities or billionaires, they’re students, teachers, parents and neighbors who saw a need and chose to act. These stories feature Matt’s Kindness Ripples On (MKRO) grant and award recipients, people whose generosity and courage are transforming lives and communities in meaningful ways.
Rooted in the legacy of Matt Kurtz, a young man who believed deeply in the power of kindness, this book was born from grief transformed into purpose. Through Matt’s Kindness Ripples On, his family honors his memory by uplifting stories that inspire hope and human connection.
Whether you’re feeling discouraged, wondering how to make a difference, or simply needing a reminder of the good in humanity, Kindness Heroes will resonate deeply. More than a collection of stories, it’s an invitation, a gentle nudge to believe that what you do matters and that every ripple begins with one small act.
Excerpt: Introduction – How One Life Sparked a Movement of Kindness
This book began with a single ripple.
Matt Kurtz was a person who quietly and consistently chose kindness, not for recognition, not for praise, but because he believed in doing good for its own sake. He helped others without hesitation, lifted spirits with humor and compassion, and made people feel seen and valued.
When Matt lost his battle with mental illness at the age of 32, we were left with deep grief and one guiding question: How can we honor Matt in a way that reflects the legacy he left behind? We decided the best way to honor him was to keep his ripple of kindness going. So, we created Matt’s Kindness Ripples On, (MKRO) a small nonprofit with one big mission: to shine a light on kind people and spread kindness in his name. We give Kindness Awards to those who inspire others through their everyday acts of kindness, and Kindness Grants to support people bringing their kindness projects to life.
What began as a tribute to one beautiful life has grown into a community of kindness heroes. Every person in this book, has received either a Kindness Grant or a Kindness Award from Matt’s Kindness Ripples On. Every grant and award recipient, is proof that goodness is not only alive but thriving. These are the people who plant seeds of hope in dark soil. Who use what little they have to give others more. Who turn their own pain into purpose, and their compassion into action.
This book is a celebration of them.
You’ll meet a nurse who turned yarn into magic by creating whimsical wigs for children battling cancer. A man in recovery who created a nonprofit that provides foster care for pets while their owners undergo addiction treatment. A couple who build free food pantries in low-income neighborhoods. A teacher who saw a quiet need and launched a book revolution, getting thousands of stories into the hands of kids who had none. And a high school student who turned a personal loss into a movement of empathy.
This book is a collection of their stories. None of them asked to be featured. None of them did it for applause. They simply saw a need, and met it with open hearts and outstretched hands.
Between each story, you’ll find a quote about kindness, little reminders that even on our most difficult days, we have the power to make the world a better place. These words are here to lift you, to challenge you, and to gently nudge you into action.
Kindness Heroes is not just a book of good deeds. It’s a map of what’s possible when people choose generosity over apathy. It’s a record of Matt’s legacy, living on in the actions of strangers who may never have met him, but who embody his spirit all the same.
Our hope is that these stories move you, inspire you, and stay with you long after you turn the final page. But even more than that, we hope they stir something inside you, a reminder that you, too, are capable of incredible kindness. That you don’t have to be rich, famous, or perfect to make a difference. You just have to begin.
Kindness isn’t a grand gesture. It’s a ripple. And every ripple starts with one brave, generous act.
And at the end of this book, we return to Matt, not in grief, but in gratitude, to honor the life that sparked it all.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for believing in kindness. And thank you, truly, for being part of Matt’s ripple.
— Jackie, Ron and Brian Kurtz
(Matt’s, Mom, Dad and brother)
Here is just one of the 61 Kindness Heroes Stories:
Weaving Joy
Holly Christensen didn’t set out to change the world. She just wanted to bring a little light to one little girl’s life.
In 2014, a close friend’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Holly, an oncology nurse, knew the grueling road ahead: endless hospital visits, medications, and the inevitable hair loss that often steals more than hair. It takes away a child’s sense of self. One night, staring at a basket of yarn, Holly had a spark of genius. She pulled out soft strands of golden yarn and began to weave. Hours later, she held a Rapunzel wig in her hands, bright and playful, the kind of thing that could make a child forget for a moment what she was fighting.
When the little girl slipped the wig on, the room shifted. She spun in circles, her braid flying, laughter spilling out like magic had snuck in through the door. For that moment, she wasn’t a patient tethered to tubes and treatments. She was a princess again. Holly watched through tears, realizing she hadn’t just made a wig. She had given back a piece of childhood.
Her friend asked the question that would change every-thing: “How many other kids could feel this joy?”
Boom, The Magic Yarn Project was born.
At first, Holly thought she’d make a few more wigs. She posted a casual call for yarn donations online, expecting a handful of responses. Instead, her inbox flooded. Strangers she had never met, teachers, crafters, parents, even hospital workers, all chimed in to say, “How can I help?”
Soon, Holly’s one-car garage turned into a buzzing workshop. Yarn piled high against the walls, scissors clicked in every corner, and her three kids jumped in too, cutting and winding strands.
“It’s been so rewarding to see my children learn to reach beyond themselves,” Holly said. “When they see the faces of the kids who receive these wigs, it sparks compassion that will stay with them forever.”
The movement spread like wildfire. Schools, churches, and community centers began hosting wig-making workshops. Incarcerated women crocheted beanies for the wigs, grateful to send comfort beyond prison walls. In Seattle, a Seahawks player showed up to make an Elsa wig for a young fan. From grandmothers to teenagers, strangers to celebrities, the call to weave joy resonated with thousands.
Since 2015, The Magic Yarn Project has created and delivered thousands of wigs worldwide, logging more than 400,000 volunteer hours. Each wig is handmade, each one carrying the love of dozens of hands and hearts.
“There are days I wonder, ‘They’re just wigs, does this really matter?’” Holly admits. “Then we get a note from a parent who says, ‘My daughter smiled again today,’ or a family who shares that their child was buried in her favorite wig. And I know, it matters more than we’ll ever realize.”
What began as one act of kindness became a lifeline for families walking through some of their darkest days. For the children, the wigs aren’t just playful costumes; they’re a shield of courage, a way to face needles and treatments with a spark of joy. And for families, each handmade gift is proof that they are not alone, that an invisible circle of kindness holds them up.
From one little girl’s smile to a global movement, Holly’s vision continues to weave magic across the world, one strand of yarn and one spark of hope at a time.
(MKRO Kindness Grant Winner July, 2025)
Reflection: Holly turned a simple ball of yarn into a source of courage and joy for children battling cancer. How might your kindness change your community if practiced consistently?
There are 60 more stories of people giving their heart and compassion to others—and one of them just might change the way you see the world.
* By entering this contest, you give consent to Kind Over Matter to use your name for promotional purposes on our website and on all social media.
NOTE: You can purchase Jackie’s book on Amazon.
