GREENSBURG, Kansas, May 2, 2008 – A project that began this winter with the help of New York City firefighters has now become the subject of a new book.

The book called “Greensburg’s Stars of Hope” shows how 220 Greensburg children brightened up the barren landscape with the help of an organization called “The New York Says Thank You Foundation.”

Planted on street corners and in front yards, signs of what’s happening in Greensburg couldn’t be much clearer.

"Of all the building projects we've done across the country this is probably the greatest because we put a hammer in the hand of 220 kids,” said Jeff Parness with The New York Says Thank You Foundation.

Back in December, Parness and a group of New York City firefighters helped the children of Greensburg make the stars as their way of paying forward the generosity they received after 9/11.

"We were just struck by how barren the landscape was and how there was no color and we started to think about what we could do to bring color back to the town and also create a sense of community,” Parness said.

The project was so inspirational, it’s now the subject of a book filled with pictures and stories like the one of a boy who wrote, “Keep on keeping on” on his star. It was his grandmother’s favorite saying. She died in the tornado.

"It was so dramatic and I was so moved to see what these kids created.” Parness said.

And the project just continues to grow. Proceeds from the book will be used to help build a new 14,000 square food pavilion for the county fairgrounds.

Katrina survivors and California wildfire victims are also among those who have felt the generosity of The New York Says Thank You Foundation in the past. They will be there working hand-in-hand with firefighters who survived 9/11 and Greensburg tornado victims to build the pavilion.

"I tell people what we do is not about 9/11; it's about 9/12, especially with the one-year anniversary in Greensburg,” Parness said. “It's important for people to remember it's not about May 4th; it's about May 5th. What it was like when all the strangers started showing up from around the country."

Fifty percent of the proceeds from the book will go toward building the 4-H building.

If you’re interested in looking at in online or buying a copy, just click on News Links.