It was a single donation – but it benefitted two different causes.

Former Katy resident Kevin Black met with the Katy Police Department at 5456 Franz in Katy on September 2, bringing copies of the book “Raising a Hand, Vol. 3” to give to law enforcement personnel in appreciation for their work in keeping the community safe.

The books are a “pay it forward” gift from an anonymous donor. “Raising a Hand” is a three-book series created by a Texas-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness and money to help fund a cure for a rare disorder called Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome took the life of Black’s first child in 2003, a daughter named Courtney, at age 16.

Rett syndrome is a complex genetic disorder with a range of symptoms that require lifelong care. Courtney was a normal child for the first two years of her life, Black said, but she began to regress at about age two, losing her abilities to speak, to walk and to use her hands. She required constant care after that and her sole caregivers were her family, Black said.

Black, a singer-songwriter and photographer and Katy ISD graduate – and yes, he is Clint Black’s brother – has worked with his friend Dave Clements, also a freelance photographer, raising money and awareness for Rett over the 20 years since Courtney passed. The pair started out with traditional fundraising activities such as golf tournaments and up to three other events per year but wanted a more effective and efficient way to raise money while also increasing awareness for Rett syndrome over a wider area. So, they decided to create a product.

That product was a coffee table book called “Raising a Hand,” which is a visual tribute to the “hands” of artists worldwide, symbolizing both the physical gestures of performance and the metaphorical “raising a hand” to support those affected. The concept grew, with two additional volumes following. All proceeds from sales of the books will go toward rettsyndrome.org to continue Dave Clements’ and Kevin and Clint Black’s ongoing determination to end Rett syndrome, according to Black’s website raisingahand.com.

Many of the books are sold in bulk to businesses such as realtors and financial advisors who use them as gifts for clients. But often the books are purchased in bulk by donors who want Black to donate them to military personnel and first responders as “thank you” gifts for their service.

And it was just that kind of gift that brough Black back to his hometown and to the Katy Police Department last week – to pass along copies of the third book to KPD staff, in appreciation for their work.

To learn more about Black’s fight against Rett syndrome or to purchase any of the three books, go to https://raisingahand.com/why-a-book/.