Local father embarks on a literary mission to change children’s lives
PHILANTHROPIC GOALS
Fueled by a desire for his daughter to embrace curiosity and the natural world, Cooya Beach local Steven Gill embarked on a mission that stems from a genuine concern: the lack of children’s books with meaningful messages.
With two books already in print and a third one completed, Mr Gill is not only eager to share his creations but also has a philanthropic goal - he aims to donate these books to children’s hospitals and various organisations.
Aligning with Mr Gill’s experience as a rainforest tour guide and marine educator in the area, his creative goal is to instil valuable lessons, foster curiosity, and ignite creativity and imaginative play.
“I aspire to spark children’s imagination through my stories, promoting imaginative play and instilling messages of environmental consciousness, sustainability, and kindness among their peers,” he conveyed.
“My energetic 4-year-old daughter, Isabel, known affectionately as Busy Izzy, became the inspiration for these tales,” Mr Gill shared. Opting not to focus explicitly on his daughter, the character in the books goes by the pseudonym Isabina Bellington, abbreviated as Izzy.
The first book, ‘Busy Izzy goes to space’, promotes environmental values—fresh air, water, food, and loved ones - advocating for gentle environmental activism by shifting people's perceptions of the world around them in a gentle manner.
The second book, ‘Busy Izzy and the Dinosaur’, delves into animal ethics, focusing on Busy Easy and the Childhood Dinosaur. It explores the friendship between the protagonist and a baby raptor, kidnapped by poachers.
Crowdfunding
With his mission to donate the books to children’s hospitals and organisations, Mr Gill is now seeking support from the community to turn his dream into reality.
“To have the opportunity to contribute to the care, recovery, and development of kids around the country would be an absolute dream come true for me,” Gill expressed.
“I don’t have the means to print good quality hard-covers or to reach anywhere near as far as I’d like on my own. As a crowd-funded initiative there is no limit to how far this could go, and I have faith in people and their willingness to do good.”
Having surpassed the initial goal of 50 books, the campaign now targets printing 100 books to meet the demand in larger institutions. Currently at $3,550 raised of a $5,500 target, every contribution brings this initiative closer to its philanthropic aspirations.
Mr Gill has already made connections with organisations, including the Royal Children’s Hospitals Foundations in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, and reached out to charitable organisations like Koala Care in Victoria.
“Speaking with Koala Care, we discussed placing a book in each of their facilities, making a significant impact in one state.
“With the potential to print 100 books, the possibilities for extending this outreach are boundless, and the community’s support will make a meaningful difference.”
For more information and to donate click here.
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