COOL first-graders

First-graders of Freeman Elementary in Irving, TX took on a huge challenge and partnered with the Nelson Center in Denton, TX and they succeeded way above the goal they set for themselves.

The Nelson Center provides services for over 100 special needs children. To motivate their children to do well they offer them incentives but recently they found their shelves empty and were in need of donations.

The students at Freeman Elementary take part in a community service project every year. These projects are used to instill respect, integrity, honesty, and citizenship in all of the children. The school's goal, along with producing students with the highest level of academic achievement possible, is to produce productive and model citizens.

The first-graders teamed with teachers and promoted a campaign called "Kids Helping Kids". With a goal of collecting 200 items for the center set, students and parents donated items ranging from puzzles, games, books, and Frisbees to hair and bath products. When all was said and done the total number of items donated reached 425.

School administrators were proud and rightfully so,"We are extremely proud of the first grade teachers, their students, and the entire student body at Freeman for their efforts. 'Kids Helping Kids' worked and that is exactly what they did; kids helped kids."

Here's to the first-graders of Freeman Elementary and all those that helped make their "Kids Helping Kids" campaign a huge success, you are truly model citizens-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of these first-graders and their "Kids Helping Kids" campaign?

COOL home builders

Looking over this neighborhood of 20 or so homes, you would be hard pressed to not break off a shingle, tear off a door, and/or bust out a window. Of course you would have to worry about upset home owners in most neighborhoods but not this one, this one consists of houses made of gingerbread.

The proud architects are students and faculty of the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program. You can find this neighborhood in the main lobby of the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA.

Another great thing about this neighborhood is that all the houses are not only edible but they are all for sale. When one of these houses is sold all proceeds go to the hospital. In this case the old saying "There goes the neighborhood" is actually a good thing.

Here's to all the architects at the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program for building such a tasteful and charitable neighborhood-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of this tasty neighborhood and the architects who built it for charity?

COOL big brothers and sisters

At a recent Big Brothers Big Sisters annual holiday party, held at a local sports arena in Madison Wisconsin, dozens of teens waited patiently in line to partake in throwing footballs around the field, taking turns in the batting cages, and singing and dancing while a local marching band played.

As the group's party came to a close, Chuck Housner, branch manager of the financial planning firm that organized it, North Star Resource Group, stated, "The holidays really are not complete unless there's some kind of surprise."

With those words, the volunteer big brothers and sisters in attendance filed back onto the field, each pushing a bicycle for their respective littles which totaled 70 in all. Local students from a nearby technical college volunteered a total of 135 hours to assemble the bikes and the Dean Foundation pitched in the helmets.

Nikki Housner, who has organized the firms past two events and is Chuck's daughter, states, "The gifts were important because many of the kids might not be getting much for Christmas."

Here's to all the big brothers and sisters in Madison, Wisconsin and around the world who donate valuable time to mentor children and to the North Star Resource Group who organized such a great event-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the Big Brothers Sisters event and the surprise bicycles the children received?

a COOL fireman

Volunteering is a noble act but Lee Vohland, 69, a firefighter for the Gibbon Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in Nebraska gives it a whole new meaning. Mr. Vohland will celebrate his 50th year with the department this February, "I still feel an adrenaline rush when I go out on calls."

This month he also celebrated his 3,000th trip to the hospital with his unit. Most of those trips have been to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney where the emergency room staff know him by name. Rescue Capt. Clint Smith states, "If there is one thing the department can count on, it's Lee being there. I think as far as dedication, he's a big influence on the guys wanting to be as dedicated as he is."

Lee states he started with the department because, "Like many kids, I was fascinated with firefighters and EMS workers." He remains just as dedicated as he was 50 years ago though he has cut back on some things, "I answer all calls, even fire calls, but I don't don air packs anymore. I don't go into burning buildings anymore, there are younger people who do that now."

Here's to you Lee for your dedication to volunteering and to helping others-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Mr. Vohland's dedication to his volunteer fire department over the past 50 years?

COOL fans

It's never a good feeling when your favorite football team loses over the weekend. Watching your team lose on either Saturday or Sunday can make for a very lousy Monday morning when Monday mornings need no help in that department. Watching your team lose at the last second or in overtime is even worse.

Nobody can blame the avid fan for being upset when something like this happens but there are times when fans can be very cruel towards the player they blame for the loss whether it's the quarterback who throws an interception, a running back who fumbles the ball, a receiver who drops a sure touchdown, or a kicker who misses a chip shot field goal.

The latter happened to the fans of Boise State when they watched their kicker, Kyle Brotzman, miss not only one short field goal but two. The first one would have won the game in regulation and the second one came in overtime. The Bronco's opponent, Nevada, won in overtime when their kicker was successful. The loss destroyed any hopes of Boise State playing for a national championship and ended their 24 game winning streak.

Yes, there are fans who are very upset with Kyle Brotzman but there are also some really cool fans who realize how important he has been to their team since becoming their starting kicker. He has made 65 field goals over the past four years (only two other kickers have made more in that time span) and is the schools all-time point leader.

Yes, the two kicks he missed were the most important in the school's history but it must also be mentioned that the Broncos were leading by 17 at halftime. The really cool fans realize this and though Kyle missed two field goals he wasn't the only one to blame for their loss. These fans decided to show their support for him by starting a facebook page "The Bronco Nation Loves Kyle Brotzman" with almost 21,000 members to date.

Here's to you Boise State Fans for showing your support towards a player who must be feeling pretty low-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you thing of the support the Boise State Fans are showing their kicker, Kyle Brotzman?

COOL donations

November 7th marked the end of a charity event, "Week of Passion", in Goshen, Indiana that raises awareness for residents who are struggling. Donations range from food, clothing, and money for those in need.

As November 7th arrived and passed Dave Wentorf, executive director of an urgent care center, found that the event had way surpassed expectations. Local schools, churches, and many other groups continue to gather donations and officials estimate that the food alone totals more than 10,000 pounds. As winter approaches winter coats and clothes that needy families can use also continue to be donated.

Here's to the residents of Goshen, IN who continue to give in tough times to families in need-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the resident of Goshen, IN who continue to give even after the "Week of Passion" charity event ended?

COOL words to live by

* ANGER IS A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TONGUE WORKS FASTER THAN THE MIND

* ALL PEOPLE SMILE IN THE SAME LANGUAGE

* EVERYTHING HAS BEAUTY BUT NOT EVERYONE SEES IT

* IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO LIVE THE SAME THINGS THEY PREACH

* THE BEST THING PARENTS CAN DO FOR THEIR CHILDREN IS TO LOVE EACH OTHER

* HOME IS THE PLACE WHERE WE GRUMBLE THE MOST, BUT ARE OFTEN TREATED THE BEST

* IF SOMEONE SPEAKS BADLY OF YOU, LIVE SO NONE WILL BELIEVE IT

* TO GET OUT OF DIFFICULTY, ONE USUALLY MUST GO THROUGH IT

* YOU ARE RICHER TODAY IF YOU HAVE LAUGHED, GIVEN, OR FORGIVEN

* DO WHAT YOU CAN, FOR WHO YOU CAN, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, AND WHERE YOU ARE

* HAPPINESS IS ENHANCED BY OTHERS BUT DOES NOT DEPEND UPON OTHERS

* HAPPY MEMORIES NEVER WEAR OUT...RELIVE THEM AS OFTEN AS YOU WANT

HERE'S TO THOSE THAT NEED WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND REMEMBER TO ALLOW YOUR ACTIONS TO SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS-STAY POSITIVE, STAY GENEROUS, AND STAY COOL!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE COOL WORDS TO LIVE BY? WHAT WORDS DO YOU LIVE BY?

a COOL veteran's day celebration

Retired Marine, Michael Eberly, and a small group of his friends decided three years ago that they were not satisfied with the Veteran's Day celebration Clarksville, TN and Montgomery County put on annually so they forged ahead and started an alternative one.

Their celebration is open to anyone that wants to come and includes a video that honors veterans and a champagne toast to all military veterans and current military personnel as well to include soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen.

As current wars carry on Michael says he just, "wants to spread the word that there are many who care about the veteran population, which is growing more and more every day."

Here's to you Michael Eberly and friends for putting on a ceremony to honor so many-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the ceremony Michael Eberly and his friends put on for Veteran's Day? For more information about the ceremony please call Mr. Eberly at 931-436-0240.

COOL quotes

"If you are asked, you serve."

"You open doors for others."

"It's what you should do. You simply need to give back; to give back to others."

Three very cool, simple quotes by Jeanne Adams, a resident of Brentwood, CA, who passed away on October 18 at the age of 89. Mrs. Adams was a retired teacher who had taught for 29 years in all grades stretching from kindergarten to the eighth grade to include special education classes.

Teaching was the least she did, when she wasn't teaching she worked in the community for a multitude of organizations which encompassed the Brentwood Women's Club, the East County Historical Society, and the Summerset senior community to just name a few. When she retired in 1984 she did not rest, her and her husband of 66 years, Jack, were voted Outstanding Citizens of the Year in 1986.

Realtor, Emil Geddes, describes Jeanne with the utmost respect, "She was always so thoughtful, she would comfort, feed, sew your clothes, listen to your stories and jokes and share her own. She was a mentor and a model to 'always do what is right'."

In her lifetime Jeanne garnered many other honors such as Teacher of the Year, twice named grand marshal for Liberty High's homecoming parade, and was given the key to the city by the Mayor.

Her son, Doug, believes she will be remembered most by what she instilled in her granddaughters, "She showed them there can be balance, that you can be a respected professional and be family-oriented. She really walked the walk. While she was still busy in the community, she was always there for family. That's her legacy."

I would just like to send my condolences to the Jeanne Adams family and friends for their loss but to always remember that they were able to share in the life of such a wonderful woman who not only lead by words but also actions.

Here's to Jeanne Adams' family-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Jeanne Adams and some of her quotes?

a COOL coach

Jarod Claybourn, Head Football Coach of Sterling High in N.J., had no idea what to do with the football from his team's first victory in two years. Mike Karp, Head Football Coach of Gateway High, watched as his team fell victim to Claybourn's team and extend it's losing streak to 17 games.

Probably more than a victory, both teams really just wanted to earn a little respect as the two were both 0-5 for the 2010 season. Going into the game everyone knew that there had to be a winner and a loser when the final gun sounded but Claybourn expressed that there was no reason why his team deserved to win any more than Karp's, "They just ran out of time. They deserved to win that game as much as we did, if not more."

So when the time on the scoreboard read 00:00 Jarod walked across the field to shake Mike's hand with the game ball tucked under his arm. He decided to give the ball to Gateway's Head Coach to honor him and his team for playing such a hard fought game with only 19 players on the roster, "For them to play as hard as they did, I just wanted to honor them in some way."

Mike Karp was truly honored, "I don't even know if i can put it into words. We're two struggling programs. Somebody had to lose, and we came up on the short end of the scoreboard. But for him to do that, it just shows that we gained some respect that night and it means so much to our kids. Classiest thing I've ever seen on a football field."

Here's to you Coach Claybourn for thinking of your opponent and showing others how to win with class-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Coach Claybourn's act of giving the game ball to the losing team's coach?

a COOL workshop

Batya Greenwald, a teacher at Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies in Colorado, has years of experience watching girls in kindergarten start school hanging out with best friends while others feel left out. As the girls get older sticky friendship problems arise such as bullying and exclusion as friends leave friends to hang out with with more popular schoolmates.

To help young girls address these issues, Greenwald found the Girls Leadership Institute, based in Berkeley, CA, that offers workshops geared towards 2nd graders to fifth graders. The workshops are formulated to help young girls build their leadership skills and to cope with tricky issues of friendship.

Rachel Simmons, co-founder of the Girls Leadership Institute, explains that the workshops are four weeks in length and are offered one night a week in sessions lasting 90 minutes. The sessions explore topics such as standing up for yourself, assertive self-expression, and saying you're sorry. Simmons states, "most of the leadership programs out there for girls teach them how to shake hands or interview for a job, not "internal" leadership skills like emotional intelligence."

Rachel wants the workshops to help girls find the confidence they need to be themselves and wants them to focus on friendships because they are so important, "Friendships are an incredible classroom for girls. They teach girls so many skills, to negotiate, to compromise, to express their needs. Girls face relationship challenges that can be very sophisticated at a very young age and parents of the youngest girls often feel helpless to deal with the mean girl behavior that their daughters experience."

Josh Baldner, Mesa Elementary School Principal, took part in the workshops along side his second-grade daughter this past September and described them as a great opportunity, "They are not just good for girls but for all kids, social skills are not entirely intuitive. In a very fun and safe way, girls learn how to handle normal everyday social situations."

Simmons reiterates that the workshops are fun and allow the girls to be silly, "You are being confident when you don't worry about what other people think."

If you would like more information on the workshops offered by the "Girls Leadership Institute" please checkout their website-www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org.

Here's to the Girls Leadership Institute and the workshops they offer to help young girls navigate those friendship issues that can be tricky and for teaching them to be confident in who they are-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the Girls Leadership Institute and the workshops they offer for young girls?

COOL haircuts

This week the Green Bay Gamblers, a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team of the United States Hockey League (USHL)that plays out of Green Bay, Wisconsin, shaved their heads to show support for cancer patients.

The unified haircut came just days before the team hosts its 6th annual "Caps for Cancer Toss" during this Saturday's game versus Team U.S.A. All those attending the game are asked to throw a new hat onto the ice that will be donated to cancer patients. Hats that are especially needed are those for women and children. Last year's event garnered nearly 3,000 hats.

The Gamblers aren't just showing their support by shaving their heads, they will also be wearing pink jerseys which will be auctioned off after the game to recognize October as being Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Also COOL, the team will donate a $1 from every ticket sold to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center.

Here's to all the players on the Green Bay Gamblers and the rest of the organization for taking the time to show support for those in need-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the Green Bay Gamblers and the organizations efforts to support cancer patients?

COOL trash

Turning trash into cash sounds like a slogan that is too good to be true but a Trenton, NJ based company, TerraCycle, has started a program that awards grants to schools that (cool)lect the most manufacturing packaging or post-consumer waste.

The "Trash to Cash Collection" contest is a free program that will reward grants totaling up to $125,000, the biggest prize being $50,000 ranging down to $5,000, to the top collecting public schools in New Jersey.

George Chevalier, a TerraCycle senior publicist, expresses that the free fundraisers pay schools to collect a range of non-recyclable products from glue bottles to toothpaste tubes to drink pouches with another 25 common materials being accepted at collection areas and drop-off points, "So every yogurt cup, chip bag, and candy wrapper that used to be thrown away can now earn money for a local school."

TerraCycle, which specializes in making eco-friendly products from post-consumer waste, has raised over $1.5 million for schools as of this week by keeping 1,849,356,026 units of waste out of area landfills. The program remains completely free as the company pays all shipping cost.

Here's to TerraCycle for finding a creative way to raise money for schools-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of TerraCycle and its free fundraising program for schools?

a COOL dog

Ever feel abandoned, alone, and as if nobody cares about you? If you have I am sure you didn't want to get out of bed and take on another day of feeling like that either while at work or just going about your normal every day routine.

Imagine how Pearl must have felt when she found herself abandoned at a local shelter. Pearl, a 4-year-old Labrador Retriever, was once abandoned at a shelter but was found by someone who thought enough of her to take her home and train her. Not only was she trained to be a loyal obedient dog, she was trained as a rescue dog.

Pearl, once trained, was sent to Haiti to save lives shortly after the island was devastated by an earthquake. Pearl traveled with a rescue team from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and along with seven other rescue teams from that county helped to bring 12 people to safety.

Think of Pearl the next time you are feeling abandoned. She was able to trust again and believe in herself and it couldn't have been an easy task for her to head to Haiti and search for survivors of an earthquake on her first rescue mission.

For her bravery and efforts, Pearl was awarded "Dog of the Year" by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Here's to Pearl and her handlers who thought enough of her to give her the responsibility of saving lives-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Pearl the rescue dog and how do you usually respond when feeling abandoned?

a COOL mom story

Sonya Carson of Detroit, MI was a divorced mother living in the ghetto trying to raise two sons, Ben and Curtis, while working two or three jobs to avoid getting on welfare.

To make matters worse, Ben and Curtis were performing poorly in school while Ben was being teased about being the dumbest kid in his fifth grade class. To say the least, Sonya was struggling for a way to help her kids stay interested in school so that they could receive a better education and carve out a promising future for themselves.

She came up with a plan to turn off the television and send both Ben and Curtis to the library to read two books each weekly and to submit two book reports to her for approval. As the boys read and did their book reports they discovered that the library offered them a chance to travel beyond their current life. Ben eventually began to excel in class and became the top student by the seventh grade. Curtis also performed way above what he had previously.

What both boys didn't know was that their mother couldn't actually read their book reports and only had a third-grade education herself.

Ben went on to attend Yale on a full scholarship, went to medical school, became chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins at the age of 33, and was the leader of the medical team that successfully completed the first separation of conjoined twins attached at the head.

Curtis became a successful mechanical engineer.

Sonya was no slacker herself, completing her education by receiving a degree in interior design.

Here's to you Sonya Carson for opening the world to your boys by way of the library and helping them become successful in life-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Sonya and the way she inspired her boys to see beyond their current situation and become successful in life?

a COOL delivery man

Earl Wieting, a resident of Shively, KY, has delivered over a million pounds of food to area shelters since 1987 and has accumulated over 250,000 miles on his van while continuing to make his deliveries six days a week for the Kentucky Harvest Program.

"Earl the Pearl", as he is called by some of the people on his route, started volunteering shortly after retiring from being a plumber in 1983, "I needed something to do and I get to meet a lot of people. It keeps me busy and keeps me young," Mr. Wieting states.

Earl also delivers an upbeat attitude and a quiet, kind spirit to the recipients of his deliveries. Danny Trent, a fellow volunteer calls Wieting "such a nice, friendly guy" and Sue Smith, a volunteer at the Sister Visitor Center adds, "He's always doing something for someone else, and he loves what he does."

What makes Earl's numerous deliveries and many miles traveled all the more remarkable is that he is a young 91-years of age. Many are surprised to learn his age but what most people discuss is his personality and dedication. Marc Curtis, director of Kentucky Harvest, explains, "There is one donor who Earl gets up once a week at 3:15am to see if they'll have anything to donate that day. That's the only time we can call him, and Earl does it. The dedication he has, on his own, is just above and beyond what people who volunteer do."

Here's to you "Earl the Pearl" for going above and beyond what is expected of you and for making 91 sound young-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Mr. Earl Wieting and his volunteering efforts at the age of 91?

a COOL ball

Last Saturday hundreds of patrons kicked up their heels at the Saints Ball, presented by St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation, and danced the night away to the music of Heartbeat, a nine-piece show band with high energy and highly danceable music, to raise money for the Montana Pediatric Project which provides pediatric intensive care services to youths under the age of 17.

Since it opened in the fall of 2008 the Project has treated hundreds of youths which has allowed them to remain close to home instead of being treated out of state. The monies raised by the ball also helps St. Vincent hire new doctors such as Montana's only board-certified pediatric neurologist, Dr. Tarif Bakdash, and with this years money they hope to purchase new equipment and maybe a renovation along with continuing to build upon its group of doctors.

Last years ball raised over $500,000 with about 900 people attending the sold out event and they hope this year's event breaks that record. Ceo and president of St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation, Dave Irion states, "We've got a great crowd coming and have had excellent feedback from people who say they want to be a part of it. The last few years we've had a person challenge the audience to raise a certain amount that they will match and this year we have a person who will match $100,000, that's a big deal."

This years Ball included live and silent auctions, and dinner to go along with the great dance music provided by Heartbeat. Supporters would most likely come no matter what was provided because they believe in the cause, the real stars-the kids of the Montana Pediatric Project.

Here's to all the doctors, nurses, volunteers, and supporters of the Montana Pediatric Project, hope you had a successful event and keep up the great work-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

If you would like more information about the Montana Pediatric Project please visit www.svh-mt.org.

What do you think of the Saints Ball and the project it supports?

COOL classes

Andrej Milic, a martial arts instructor with 16 years of experience, founded Milic Sport Club in 2008 with a goal of providing an environment for children that not only promotes personal well-being but growth and development as well.

Andrej feels that not only do self-defense classes teach important life saving skills but also important life skills as well, "I think it's important to get kids empowered, we teach them how to take control of situations and teach them positive habits. One thing every kid will leave these classes with is discipline."

Milic expresses that in addition to empowerment and discipline martial arts teaches values like confidence and leadership along with providing the kids great exercise, "Kids have a lot of built-up energy and these classes are a positive way for them to burn that energy off."

Andrej and his club have gained national attention, he expresses that the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations have awarded him both martial arts and fitness achievements, "This is a good foundation for kids to start achieving personal success, the skills they get from these classes are definitely going to impact their lives."

Here's to you Andrej Milic and all the instructors at Milic Sport Club for teaching children important life lessons and instilling in them self confidence-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For those economically struggling, the club offers low-cost classes and first-timers get to try a class free of charge.

What do you think of Andrey Milic and his martial art classes and how they teach more then just life-saving skills?

a COOL rally

Dalton and Dawnville, GA, two tight-knit communities, came together and rallied for one of their own, 24 year-old Sgt. Joey Jones who lost his legs this past August from a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

In Dawnville, Treasa West and Ginger Souther got together and with the blessing of event organizers renamed the annual Dawnville Day as "Joey Day." The annual event usually raises money for local athletic teams but the two thought it should focus on Sgt. Jones and his family. "Joey Day" featured horse rides, craft booths, a cake walk, and a dunk tank in hopes of raising enough money to build a handicap-accessible room in the Jones' home and to purchase Joey a specially modified pickup truck he can drive when he finally arrives home from months of multiple surgeries and intense physical therapy.

Just a few miles away, in Dalton, veterans, bikers, friends, and family stood outside near the local V.F.W (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post holding signs and buckets in hopes of receiving donations from passing motorists. Sgt. Jones' friend from childhood, Charles Heard, and Terry Owenby joined forces to organize the event in hopes of delivering the money personally to Joey and his family. Sgt. Jones' injuries hit close to home for Mr. Heard, "That it's somebody you know, it hits home and hurts everybody."

Here's to you residents of Dalton and Dawnville, Ga for rallying together to help a soldier, a friend, a family member, a hero, and a local resident return home with the honor and dignity he deserves-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the residents of Dalton and Dawnville, GA and their efforts to raise money for wounded soldier Sgt. Joey Jones?

a COOL shopping spree

Back to school can mean different things to different kids, parents, or families. In Portland, OR at the Johnson Creek Boulevard Fred Meyer store it meant the eighth annual "Shop With a Cop" charity event which took place at 7am on Wednesday, August 25 to help worthy but disadvantaged children have a positive start to the school year.

While many children look forward to the start of the school year-wearing new clothes, seeing old friends, and meeting new ones-many can also dread it because they don't have the means for new outfits or the new supplies they need. This event not only helps kids prepare to receive a good education but it helps them to feel as if they "fit in."

Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Larry Graham, who helped start the annual event, expressed that around 50 police officers volunteered for the shopping spree to assist kids in buying clothing and school supplies for the new school year. Sgt. Graham states, "A good thing about this is that this isn't just a giveaway. Being chosen to participate is a reward for each of these students, who have worked in service to their community."

The annual charity event has definitely grown over the past eight years. It started by serving 75 children with $2,000 to serving 150 kids with $30,000 this year. It is fun and a positive experience for not just the kids but the officers involved as well, Portland Police Officer Doris Paisley states, "This is really fun, and more than that, I like the positive interaction we get to have with all these great kids."

Commander Bill Walker reiterates the positive effect the event has, "It gives these kids a positive memory of citizens interacting with police. This event can be a very different environment than which they normally see police officers." It is very gratifying when a student remembers him from an event like this, "that's better than any other accolade that you could get as a police officer."

Here's to you Portland Police Officers for helping these worthy kids enjoy the start of another school year and for helping them realize that working in their community is a cool act-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

"Shop With a Cop" charity events are held in many cities throughout the U.S.-if you would like to donate please contact your local police department, some of these events are held in December also.

What do you think of the "Shop With a Cop" charity event and how it helps children start their school year?

a COOL gnome

At first glance you might want to rub your eyes and refocus, your eyes must be deceiving you, that can't be a life sized gnome that you are seeing on your way to work. At second glance and first thought you might think the grown man dressed as a garden gnome on the street corner is a little out there, if not a lot out there.

The life sized gnome is Robert Schultz, a Southeast Portland resident, who use to work as a construction inspector before being laid off. Robert has not let his current lack of work get him down, in fact his presence once or twice a month on a street corner dressed as a gnome is a testament to using laughter as a healing agent.
Schultz states, "I have a belief that you can have a positive impact on society without spending money or earning money or involving yourself in money."

The most common reaction he gets is people driving back around the block to take another look at him or to point him out to a friend. He expresses that some people come up to talk to him and that they are usually laughing, "I do hold a couple of signs, one says, 'Just Gnome Me,' and the other one says, 'Gnome for Hire.' The idea is to not look downtrodden."

He expresses that he can do jobs for anyone, he can tend a garden, hold a lantern, or just stand still. He did get a job out of it, a man asked him to sit in front of a house he was trying to sell and just wanted it to get noticed. For fifty bucks he stood there for two hours and he is pleased to announce the man was successful in selling the house.

He got the idea for the gnome when his son came down with leukemia and found the atmosphere in the hospital to be very negative. He didn't feel as this was the proper environment for children to heal in. He felt he could make a positive change dressed as a gnome and it grew from there. His wife is supportive of his new found gnomish alter ego except for one aspect, "She says don't wear the hat to bed."

Here's to you Robert Schultz for not getting down about being laid off and for looking to heal others through laughter-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Robert Schultz dressing up like a gnome and standing on street corners in an attempt to make others laugh?

a COOL deli

Ellen Sleevi, owner of Heidi's Brooklyn Deli in Centennial, CO, donated all the money her store made this past September 11th to a scholarship fund in honor of her younger brother, the Christopher Faughnan Scholarship foundation. September 11th is never an easy day for Ellen, she lost her brother who worked as a bond broker on the 103rd floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Christopher's wife, Cathy, created the scholarship to present money to the Arvada High School senior "who shows the potential to have the most positive impact on the world." Through this foundation his family is able to carry on his legacy which consisted of compassion, positivity, and love.

It took Ellen quite some time to come to terms with Christopher's untimely death but she was amazed by the support and love that poured in from across the country from family and friends, "If I wanted the message of 9-11 to be anything, it would be that love is so much more powerful than hate."

By annually riding in the CU Buffalo Classic bike ride in Christopher's name and working through the scholarship foundation the family continues to live their lives in honor of the 38 year-old father of three, "The scholarship foundation is an extension of him and empowers young people to make a profound impact on society in his name," Ellen states, "he was always trying to make the world a better place and we're trying to fill those gaps."

Here's to you Ellen for inspiring others to do COOL things in your brother's name and sorry for your loss-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the Christopher Faughnan Scholarship Foundation? If you would like to donate please call 303-790-0551.

COOL bags

This September 25th, Best Stuff of Westlake Village, CA, will be holding its fundraiser for the My Stuff Bags Foundation and serving gourmet food and wine to go along with games, a silent auction, and other raffle items including three signed scripts by the guest stars of yet to be aired episodes of "The Simpsons."

The foundation was started back in 1998 to bring attention to the immediate physical and emotional needs of children who experience abuse and neglect and after being rescued are entered into shelters or foster care homes without any personal belongings.

Janeen Holmes, president and CEO of the foundation, explains the unique program, "It provides children with their own individual My Stuff duffel's filled with a variety of new, age- and gender-appropriate childhood essentials such as toys, books, a stuffed animal, toiletries, a blanket and other items to help provide comfort, diversion, and a sense of dignity and self-esteem during a frightening, very difficult time in their young lives."

The foundation has provided these bags to a variety of child and family service agencies free of charge for over ten years to help them maximize the limited resources available to them.

Holmes expresses the most important part of the foundation, "It was created to give these deserving children the realization that people they didn't even know care very deeply about them."

Here's to you My Stuff Bags Foundation for giving these deserving children something to hold to in a very traumatic time-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

If you would like more information or would like to help My Stuff Bags Foundation beat their total of almost $40,000 they raised last year please go to www.mystuffbags.org to make an online donation or call them toll free at 1-866-3MY-STUFF

What do you think of MY STUFF BAGS FOUNDATION?

a COOL donation

According to a press release a teen center in the Cambridge, MA area needed an air hockey table. Now, after Cambridge Police Officer Oswaldo Ortiz took action and donated one, the center will no longer be needing to replace it's old one.

Officer Ortiz knew that the center wasn't going to be able to purchase a new one for the kids so he decided to take action, "I decided to buy them a new table that they could use and enjoy."

Officer Ortiz, or "Ozzie" as he is referred to by the kids, is a big part of the Community Relations Unit and interacts with the kids daily in the mornings during the week. This summer he was assigned to the center where 30-40 pre-teens attend and wanted to do something beyond his call of duty, "Their old table had a hole in it and I wanted to do something nice for the kids."

To some, this act of coolness may seem small but to these kids that table could have meant a lot and Officer Ortiz's cool actions send a positive message to them-no act of kindness is small. Here's to you Officer Ortiz for realizing any donation is a cool one-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Officer Ortiz's donation to the teen center?

COOL freshmen

As the school year starts and many new incoming students enter their first year of college one can imagine the anxiety many of them are experiencing. At the University of Evansville, located in Indiana, most of the incoming freshmen decided to work off some of that anxiety by performing service tasks at a variety of places in the city.

The program, optional to the students, took the freshmen to about 20 different sites to help with beautification, cleaning, office tasks, activities, and various other projects. The project isn't just about serving the community, many who participated express that it is a good way for students to meet peers and people in the community, as well as learning about Evansville and what it has to offer.

Freshmen aren't the only ones who lend a hand, "A lot of us continue (service) through the rest of our student career," said Brian Knowles who participated as a freshman two years ago, "I know some people that are alumni and still volunteer."

The University has a great reputation for performing service throughout the community, in 2009 alone its students performed more than 20,000 hours of volunteer service. Geoff Edwards, director of UE's Center for Student Engagement expresses, "We take service seriously, and we highly encourage it. We train to ingrain it into the culture of what it is to be a UE student."

Dana Clayton, Vice President of Student Affairs, states of the service program, "It was a wonderful day to emphasize to our students our commitment to service in the community."

Here's to you freshmen, who more than likely would have been sleeping in and worrying about what the new school year has in store for you. Your commitment to service is much appreciated and sets quite an example to the freshmen of tomorrow, best of luck to you-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the University of Evansville's community service project and the freshmen that participated in it?

a COOL random act of kindness

Now this story might not seem like much to some readers but it truly exemplifies what being cool is all about. A gentleman walking through an Aldi's in East Peoria, IL noticed an elderly man, Ray-93, struggling with picking up a watermelon. The unknown man picked it up for him, put it in his cart, followed him and the man's wife to the check-out, put it on the counter and back into the cart when it was paid for. He continued to follow the older couple to their car and put the watermelon into the trunk. The man left without wanting anything in return, he didn't even give his name to the elderly couple.

The older couple wanted to thank the anonymous gentleman so they shared this random act of kindness with their local newspaper in Peoria, IL. "There are such nice people in the world," they expressed, "we just want to thank the very nice gentleman for being so kind."

Here's to the anonymous gentleman who made the day of an elderly couple with his random act of kindness and wanting nothing in return-stay postive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of random acts of kindness? When was the last time you performed a random act of kindness and what was it?

a COOL gang

Looking at the abandoned bicycle racetrack, the Dorais Velodrome, in the northeast section of Detroit one could see a maze of shrubbery, trees, tires, and paint cans without ever imagining that bikes were once ridden there.

That all changed when the Mower Gang showed up one day. The Mower Gang, founded by Tom Nardone, was created to revive unkempt public land in Detroit. This project was their first, "I can't believe that this has been abandoned in time," Tom said as he over looked the track. At first the task seemed daunting as twenty-some years of non-use left the concrete almost completely covered with flora. With donated power tools the gang worked under a relentless sun and the track began to resemble its old self.

Jon Hughes, owner of Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop and the grandson of one of the men who helped build the velodrome back in 1969, seemed amazed, "I'm super impressed with what they've done in just a day." Jon rode the track again for the first time in years as he reminisced about past national and world champions that once competed on the track.

"It's really not about getting some 45 year-old guy a better place to ride his bike. It's more about getting 10-,12-,13-year-old kids a better place to spend an afternoon," said Tom as he reflected on the gang's mission.

The Mower Gang's next mission is at Riverside Park on Aug. 28-look for them as they will be wearing their shirts with the motto, "Winning Detroit's Other Turf War."

Here's to you Tom and the rest of the Mower Gang, keep mowing-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the Mower Gang's efforts to clean up unkempt public land in Detroit?

a COOL camp

Camp Quality is an annual camp for children with cancer, it provides children with a camp experience and a respite from their illness. The camp was founded in Australia back in 1983 and has grown to 57 camps around the world.

LeAnn Kooyenga, a pediatric oncology nurse, volunteers as a medical coordinator at Camp Quality in Illinois, "This camp is fantastic because it gives kids a break from their treatment and from the hospital, it's a huge boost for the morale and they leave talking about coming back next year."

This year 80 campers attended Camp Quality in Illinois. Volunteer companions and 24 hour-a-day medical staff greeted them upon arrival. A variety of activities are offered every year depending on the economy but a few are mainstays such as crafts, archery, paintball, and swimming.

Michelle Carroll, a former camper and now a sophomore in college, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer when she was 2 1/2 years old. She has attended the camp which she views as a "second home" every year since she was 4 and has volunteered for the past two years as a companion, "Camp Quality had such an impact on my life, it meant a lot to me to have fun for a week, to be able to be myself, especially because of all the other kids are in the same situation. As a companion, it's rewarding to see kids so happy and to know that you are a part of it."

Carol Oostman, volunteer and board member at Illinois' Camp Quality, expresses, "Our motto is "Letting kids with cancer be kids again". We don't off a cure, just a break from being sick, campers come just to have fun."

Here's to all the volunteers and medical staff at Camp Quality's around the world-keep up the great work! Stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For more information on Camp Quality's around the world please visit:
www.campquality.org.

What do you think of Camp Quality's efforts to provide a camp experience and fun to those children diagnosed with cancer?

COOL angels

Its never been easier to know an angel here on earth or to become one yourself. To become an angel all that one must do is send a letter or card once a week and a small care package once a month to a deployed member of the United States military.

Soldiers' Angels is a non-profit organization providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families. It was started by Patti Patton-Bader, a self proclaimed ordinary mother, who has had two sons deployed to Iraq over the years.

While on deployment in 2003 her oldest son, Brandon, explained his concerns to his mother that some of his fellow soldiers never received any mail or care packages from home. Patti vowed to not let a situation like this continue and contacted friends and family to see if they would be interested in supporting a soldier or two on deployment. Before long, Soldiers' Angels became an Internet community with thousands of angels around the world and reorganized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2004.

Soldiers' Angels volunteers have not stopped at sending over hundreds of thousands of letters and care packages to service members deployed all over the world, they have sent First Aid Packages to the wounded at various military hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as stateside, they have provided emergency aid to military families in need, and have provided technology that helps assist the severely wounded such as voice-controlled/adaptive laptops. Other efforts have helped provide Kevlar armored blankets for vehicles and flights to soldiers or members of their families when needed as well as other services that help to honor and uphold the memories of those that have sacrificed the ultimate price for the freedom and safety of us here at home.

Here's to you Patti Patton-Bader and the rest of the Soldiers' Angels that walk among us here on earth, keep up your COOL efforts to assure those soldiers deployed that they are not forgotten back home and are much appreciated-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For more information about these angels please visit them at:

http://soldiersangels.org

What do you think of Soldiers' Angels and their efforts to provide aid and comfort to United States Military members deployed around the world? Do you think you would like to be a member of Soldiers' Angels?

COOL wings

When Marla Zack of West Burbank, CA was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago she was determined to beat it. Marla had lost her mother, stepmother, an aunt, and several friends to the disease and knew her outcome was going to be different, "It was like a light bulb went on, I went into survival mode. I needed to see someone beat this disease, and it became clear that I was going to be the one to beat it."

After being diagnosed during an annual checkup with her doctor, Marla ended up going through a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, and a hysterectomy after the cancer spread to her lymph nodes and now that she is cancer free she is not waiting until the five-year mark to proclaim herself a survivor, "I felt like a survivor straight away because the cancer was no longer in my body."

She now finds herself, after reconstructive surgery, working hard to bring awareness to the disease and raising money for cancer charities along the way. She is focused on a jewelry business she started that is dedicated to cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones.

She went to a jeweler friend after she created a picture of a butterfly around the breast cancer ribbon, calling it "WINGS OF COURAGE", and asked her to make it into a pendant. The friend, Laura Elizabeth, taught her how to make it herself. Marla's husband, Michael, presented the idea of stamping the word "believe" on the back of the pendant and her son, Sullivan, helped pick out the chain.

The handmade pendants can be bought on her website, www.wingsofcouragebelieve.com, for $100 with 20% of the proceeds being split between Young Survival Coalition and weSPARK Cancer Support Center. Here's to you Marla for having a can't be beat attitude, for giving back to those in need, and inspiring others to do the same-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Marla's attitude to survive breast cancer and her efforts to raise awareness of it and money for cancer charities?

a COOL bike ride

Cyclists involved in this year's Journey of Hope ride took off in June from San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA heading towards Washington D.C. where they will dismount in August after thousands of miles traveled. Journey of Hope, created by Push America, is the largest fraternal fundraising and awareness event of its kind comprised solely of members (current and alumni) of Pi Kappa Phi from universities around the U.S. This COOL event raises money and awareness for people with disabilities.

The inaugural ride, in 1988, raised $20,000 and has now expanded to three different routes, all ending in D.C., and annually raises over $500,000. The cyclists average 75 miles a day but bike riding isn't the only way they give back. Along the way they visit local groups, in the 32 different states they pass through, that support people with disabilities, take part in a game of wheelchair basketball, educate children on the abilities of people with disabilities, and learn life lessons that remain with them long after the journey has concluded.

Brad Ray, a wheelchair athlete who hopes to make the 2012 Paralympics in London, expresses that it means a lot to have Journey of Hope raise money for their activities, "It' super important, our equipment is super expensive."

Joey Stassi, 21 and a cyclist, expresses that the summer fundraiser was the main reason he joined the fraternity, "It was the idea of riding your bike across the country and making a big difference in people's lives. The riders get as much out of their encounters with people with disabilities as they do."

Here's to you Journey of Hope cyclists-keep riding for a great cause, stay safe, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For information on this COOL bike ride please visit: www.pushamerica.org

What do you think of the Journey for Hope ride and its message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities?

a COOL service

From serving only five senior citizen clients back in 1970 to serving close to 50 daily, the Zelienople, PA Meals on Wheels program recently celebrated 40 years in providing residents of local communities with a much needed and appreciated service.

Barbara Kaufman, operations chairwoman, has been volunteering since the program's inception, "I started when I was in my 20's, I started the program back in 1970 and stayed with it." She also explains that the program just doesn't serve the elderly anymore, "Our youngest client was a 21-year-old blind diabetic."

The steady increase of clients is attributed to the program's huge base of volunteers, which is close to 125 today. The program has a variety of volunteers with some who have been participating since the start and are now older then a lot of their clients. Mae Wagner, 90, expresses that she is blessed to be healthy enough to be able to continue her service, "I've been there from the start, I've delivered to quite a few clients younger than me and I'll probably be doing this for a while."

Those serviced by the long running program continue to be grateful for its inception many years ago. Helen Schott, 80, states that the program has provided her with a very important lifeline, "I just depend on them a lot, they're wonderful, really nice people. I've gotten to know a lot of them, I really don't know what I'd do without it."

Here's to you volunteers at the Zelienople, PA Meals on Wheels program and other Meals on Wheels programs around the world for not only providing meals to those in need but for also providing a much needed lifeline to them throughout the week-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the Meals on Wheels program in your neighborhood? Do you volunteer or know someone that does? If so, for how long have you or the person(s) you know been volunteering and what do you get out of it?

COOL neighborhood parties

Summer time for neighborhoods across the world usually means cookouts, swimming, and the occasional block party. For residents of Josephine Crossing in Billings, MT summer time means hosting a free six week concert and movie series that helps different fundraising organizations.

Brad McCall, a resident of Josephine Crossing, explains, "At first we wanted a COOL event n the neighborhood for all the neighbors. After all, we live here too, but then we got thinking on a larger scale. We thought it would be fun to open our parties to the public and if we can help out a few fundraising organizations in the process, why not?"

It wasn't an easy task to select what organizations would benefit from the concerts, with so many in the community. They finally decided on fundraisers that put an emphasis on environment and conservation.

If you find yourself in or around Billings, MT be sure to check out one of the free concerts or movies in Josephine Crossing. Food, beer, and wine can be purchased from THE SOUP PLACE and YELLOWSTONE VALLEY BREWING-the concerts go from 6pm-8pm. For more info please visit www.josephinecrossing.com.

The concert dates and benefitting groups are listed below:

6/29: The Firehouse Band (BikeNet)
7/13: The Peach Pickers (Audubon Conservation Education Center)
7/20: Chris Smith (Montana Wilderness Association)
7/27: Downtime (Yellowstone River Parks Association)
8/3: Zen (Habitat for Humanity)
8/10: Jaded Ladies (The MS Society)

Here's to you residents of Josephine Crossing for proving that thinking of others can be a blast! stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the residents of Josephine Crossing and their method of giving to worthy causes?

COOL neighbors

Ever leave town and think twice about if you locked your doors of if your house is safe from being broken into? Most people don't, it's not something we want to worry about while we are away on business or pleasure. It's reassuring when one lives in a neighborhood where neighbors look out for each other.

This week in Titusville, FL three suspects, all under 21 years-of-age, entered a house they knew to be vacant as the residents were out of town. They loaded a large safe and two flat-screen televisions, among other items, into their 1998 Dodge but didn't get far.

Thanks to a couple of neighbors who alertly called 9-1-1 after witnessing the suspects, 1 female and 2 males, loading up the items into their vehicle, they were quickly apprehended. Detective T.J. Wright, who was in the right place at the right time, responded to the call and arrested the three suspects minutes after the crime took place.

Here's to these two neighbors who decided to take action and get involved instead of looking the other way and here's to COOL neighbors all over the world-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What would you do if you witnessed a crime in your neighborhood?

a COOL donor

Maggie Wiederholt, who would have been 13 today, received an anonymous $10,000 gift in her name towards research into the auto-immune disease called "Behcet's" which led to her death this past February.

"I cannot think of a more amazing (COOL) gift for Maggie's birthday...than this money that was sent in her memory," Diane Wiederholt writes, "I have no clue who sent the money and could never even begin to thank them." The anonymous donation was the largest yet since Maggie's death.

One of Maggie's dying wishes was for more research to be done to help others that suffer from the disease that took her life. Maggie requested that an autopsy be performed on her body so that tissue samples could be tested to see how the auto-immune disease affected her organs.

Dr. Polly Ferguson, Maggies rheumatologist, explains that upward towards $50,000 would be needed to perform a "whole genome sequencing" which would provide the needed information about the DNA sequencing of Maggie's genes and the DNA in between them, and a lot more to do the research beyond that. The anonymous $10,000 gift is certainly a step in the right direction.

Here's to you anonymous donor for your COOL gift and for staying humble about it-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of this COOL gift and the donor's decision to remain anonymous?

a COOL 9-year-old

Camryn Chaffee, 9, is a little girl with a really big and cool heart. She hit the ground running in Cranberry, PA and placed jars in area businesses asking for donations for MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Her father drove her around and dropped her off in front of a variety of stores, she entered herself and asked to speak to the manager to get permission to leave her jars.

She also visited neighbors to ask for donations while the jars sat in the businesses for five weeks, in all, she was able to raise $600 for MS. She even took the time to thank the participating businesses by making up specific cards for them, as an example she made a hot dog card for Johnny's Hot Dogs.

Camryn says she was inspired by a neighbor and a co-worker of her father who both suffer from MS. She also plans on making her fundrasier an annual event, "It was fun to do and it will help people with MS."

Here's to you Camryn, may your heart forever stay big-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Camryn's efforts to raise money for MS? Who's the youngest fundraiser you know? How old are they and what cause did they raise money for?

a COOL pre-wedding bash

When getting married one not only looks forward to the special day but also to the bachelor and bachelorette parties that precede it. Well, Christine Buono of Hopewell, PA and her fiancee, Justin Harrison of Hampton, PA, decided to throw a fundraiser instead.

The both of them decided on organizing a car wash to benefit the North Hills Community Outreach. With family and some members of the wedding party they were able to collect food and money for the community agency while having fun and spending time with each other. Ms. Buono explains, "We decided we wanted to do something for someone else. We're not 25 and don't need to party."

Also, the couple plans on forgoing wedding favors and making donations to the food pantry and Music for Life in honor of their guests. They will let their guests know through notes or the program who was helped by their generous actions.

Mr. Harrison's aunt is not the least bit surprised by the couple's actions, "Nothing surprises me that they do. They're always doing something for someone else."

Here's to you Christine and Justin, may you be happy and blessed for years to come-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Christine's and Justin's idea of throwing a fundraiser in lieu of bachelor and bachelorette parties?

it's COOL to just be good

As life gets busy and chaotic at times it is often very easy for us to forget about taking care of ourselves as we jump from one task to another. Well, help is out there to coach and provide us with the proper nutrition so that we can be at our optimal health. Don't forget, to be able to be there for those we love and care about we must first take care of ourselves.

At www.Tonessi.net one can find a variety of items to get on the healthy track and with their Just Be Good (to your body) slogan and T-shirts be inspired to stay there.

The founders of www.Tonessi.net have dealt with many severe health issues throughout their family and have lost loved ones in the process. At present, a serious health issue threatens an immediate family member.

However, they have decided to not stand idly by and accept their situation. They have done extensive research and basically changed how they eat and live. With a positive attitude and mind set of treating their bodies right, they started a journey that included the mind and spirit, "We strongly believe that the power of your mind is more important than anything else, with this power you can literally change your life. With the right thoughts and attitude anything is possible!"

As they help themselves they look to help others-a very COOL attitude-Their mission, through research-certain products-books-organizations, is to inspire others to take that first step to start their own journey towards optimum health.

Here's to you Tonessi.net for inspiring and helping others to start a journey that will be well worth it, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For more information please visit them at www.Tonessi.net or call toll free at 877-283-2494.

What do you think of www.Tonessi.net and their efforts to inspire others to be at their very best mentally and physically?

one COOL pitcher

This story has made national headlines and could be construed as a sad story with an unfortunate ending but it turned out to be a great lesson in COOLITICS.

Armando Galarraga, pitcher for the Major League Baseball team Detroit Tigers, was on the verge of pitching a perfect game which is a very hard and rare feat in baseball. In fact, he would have been only the 21st pitcher in history to complete such a feat. It would have been a great night for baseball as this rare accomplishment would have been the third one this season and second in four nights.

With two outs in the ninth inning the batter at the plate, Jason Donald, hit an infield grounder that was handled cleanly and thrown to first base clearly beating him to the bag. The announcers yelled he's out and were dismayed when they saw first base umpire, Jim Joyce, raise his arms and declare him safe. The replay clearly showed that the ball beat the runner to the bag. Armando stayed focused and retired the next batter thus ending the game but leaving him without a piece of history.

Armando could have easily lost his cool and berated the umpire, which no one would have blamed him for. However, Armando kept his cool and though he didn't want to talk about losing his perfect game due to a bad call he did meet with Jim Joyce afterwards who offered him an apology, "You don't see an umpire come out after a game and say, 'Hey let me tell you I'm sorry,'" Galarraga said, "He felt really bad. He didn't even shower."

Armando is truly a COOLITICIAN, he realizes that mistakes are made and that he can either let them bring him down or, as he has done, be the COOL person in such an unfortunate situation. Also, Jim Joyce should be commended as well for him taking responsibility for his mistake and not making excuses, "It was the biggest call of my career and I kicked the @#!$ out of it. I just cost the kid a perfect game," he admitted, "I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay."

So here's to you Armando for staying cool in your moment of blown glory and to you Mr. Joyce for admitting and taking responsibility for your mistake. Hopefully, adults and children alike will learn from your cool responses when being in the fire-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of how Mr. Armando Galarrago and Mr. Jim Joyce have responded to their much publicized event?

COOL pilots

Pilots N Paws, started back in February of 2008, is a program that flys animals in shelters scheduled for euthanizing to no-kill shelters that have the space to take them in.

Pilots in the program donate their time, planes, and fuel to fly dozens of animals a month several states away from the overcrowded shelters they are in to shelters that commit to find them permanent homes.

Within months of the program starting nearly 85 pilots had signed on and nearly 200 dogs flown to a variety of shelters and rescue groups. The number of private pilots volunteering at their own expense now totals over 1,000 and the number of animals transported is over 1,000 as well.

Each flight costs hundreds of dollars in fuel alone, which doesn't take into account the cost of routine maintenance and other operating expenses. Michele McGuire, a small-plane pilot who pays her own costs states, "Doggy kisses are worth the cost of a gallon of fuel." Another pilot, Nick O'Connell expresses that transporting these pets is rewarding beyond his wildest dreams.

Dawn Thompson, a volunteer who has taken in and re-homed over 100 dogs a year for the past 18 years, sees another benefit to Pilots N Paws, "the dogs that arrive by plane rather than ground support don't have stress that two days on the road creates, and that makes them almost instantly adorable."

So, Pilots N Paws Pilots, here's to you-keep flying high, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

If you would like more information on this COOL program-Pilots N Paws-visit http://pilotsnpaws.org. At least check out the video "I Will Care For You"-Lyrics by: Jory Gora and Performed by: Andrea Stolpe, it shows you some of the pilots along with some of the animals they have rescued-it is inspiring and COOL!

What do you think of the efforts of Pilots N Paws and the pilots that make it work?

COOL senior citizens

Its always COOL to see active senior citizens enjoying life to the fullest and not letting their age deter them from participating in activities that make life worth living. It's even COOLER seeing them improving others lives as they improve their own.

In Lehigh County, located in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, you will find 20 senior residents ranging in ages from 62 to 105 remaining highly active and volunteering in their respective communities. Their volunteer efforts range from helping needy children, helping people enroll in Medicare's prescription drug program and complete their taxes, working in hospitals, knitting and sending wool helmet liners to American troops, and making wooden toys for low-income children in area schools and hospitals to name just a few.

Eve Reidelbach who is 105-years-old (or young) and founded a performance group, Krazy Kids, that performs at senior centers in the area reveals her secret to aging well, "It's all about the attitude, honey. Life is what you make of it."

This would not be a COOL blog without mentioning the names of some of the seniors who were recently honored by county officials during the 10th annual Tribute to Unsung Heroes, a program that recognizes seniors who've volunteered extensively in their communities-so here's to:

Eve, 105 Lena Yaich, 77
David Binder, 65 Corrine Passmore, 85
Robert Eichelberger, 67 Nancy Hepler, 75
Nancy Erdman, 76 Martine Beahn, 85
Anne Frantz, 80 George Wagner, 82
Raymond Kieffer, 75 Willis Moser, 84
Leah Kuhns, 81 Hilda Batarick, 85
David Melcher,62 Jackie Wieder, 83
Marlene Merz, 72 Judy Ruch, 70
Doris Oertner, 73

and other seniors out there that remain active, inspire us to help others, and remind us that age is just a number, stay young, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of these seniors and their volunteer efforts? Please mention a senior you know that volunteers and continues to remain active.

a COOL centennial birthday

This past February, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) celebrated its 100th year in existence. Since its founding in 1910, over 110 million Americans have been members. With over 4 million members currently, it's one of the largest youth organizations in the United States.

The goal of the Scouts is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in the wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and at older age levels career-orientated programs in partnership with community organizations.

For its younger members, the Scout method introduces values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoor skills through a variety of activities that include but are not limited to camping, aquatics, and hiking.

Here's to the Boys Scouts of America and all the volunteers and scout leaders who have taken the time to introduce the youth of yesterday, today, and tomorrow to a COOL respectful way of living-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the efforts of the BSA to instill these cool and positive characteristics in the youth of today? Were you a scout or involved in any other youth organization as a child that helped you prepare for the future? What did you learn and are you involved in any capacity today as a volunteer?

a COOL speaker

Gale Sayers is known to many as a Hall-of-Fame running back for the Chicago Bears in the sixties and retiring after five seasons, in 1971, due to injuries to his knees. Many don't know that today he works to inspire and comfort cancer patients.

Mr. Sayers is motivated to help by the many losses he has experienced due to cancer, "I go way back with cancer because of family and friends who have died because of the disease. Any time I can help people who have cancer, I am happy to do it."

The friendship between Mr. Sayers who is black, and fellow Chicago Bear running back, Brian Piccolo who is white, has been well chronicled in books and made for t.v. movies. During the sixties when racial tensions were high Mr. Sayers and Mr. Piccolo developed a friendship that inspires many today. Gale, lost his good friend, Brian, to cancer in 1970.

Mr. Sayers is this years keynote speaker at the Goshen Center for Cancer Care's sixth annual cancer survivorship program. He expresses that his short career in football can teach a lesson that has already been learned by many cancer patients, make the most of of every day, their lives, and to cherish each relationship.

Here's to you Gale Sayers, first-for providing us many sports fans with numerous exciting highlights, second-for inspiring us to look past our differences in tough times to form important relationships, and third-for inspiring those diagnosed with cancer, undergoing treatment, or in remission-keep inspiring, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Gaye Sayers inspiring characteristics and acts?

COOL moms

Though it's after Mother's Day it's never too late to celebrate COOL moms. We all know how much moms help and support us through our lives, whether we are infants, teenagers, or adults. With all that loving support comes stress and loss of time for themselves, that's why it's great to see an organization like M.O.M.S (Moms Offering Moms Support) come along and lend them an outlet so they can enjoy time with other adults who just happen to be mothers as well.

MOMS, was started in 1983 by Mary James who was a stay at-home mother living in California. She was tired of being at home alone and longed for companionship for herself and her children, she knew there had to be other stay at-home mothers along with their children. When she couldn't find another group/organization that met during the day, when stay at-home mothers need the support the most, she decided to start an organization-MOMS-just for at-home mothers.

The goals of MOMS are:
-provide support group for mothers who choose to stay at home to raise their children
-provide a forum for topics of interest to mothers
-help children in the community
-perform at least one service project yearly helping needy children

The principles:
-women must be free to choose their personal path to fulfillment
-for women who choose it, raising children is an important and fulfilling full time job
-a family's decision for a mother to stay at home to raise the children often involves considerable financial sacrifice
-there is no one right way to raise children, but our members have a common concern in raising their children in a healthful way

MOMS now numbers over 2,100 chapters in the U.S. alone and over 110,000 members! They also have International chapters starting as well!

Here's to you MOMS for supporting those stay at-home mothers who have sacrificed so much for us over the years, keep up the great work, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Check MOMS out at www.momsclub.org or e-mail them at momsclub@aol.com

What do you think of MOMS efforts to support stay at-home mothers?

COOL homes

Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit organization committed to assisting severely injured veterans, has already built 57 homes for injured soldiers returning home throughout the country with 30 more already under construction.

On average, the homes cost $330,000 depending on location but are provided to the injured soldier at no cost to him or her. Grants, corporate sponsors, and donations from individuals and companies pay for all the homes. The homes include a variety of features depending on injuries sustained by the specific soldier, including those who have lost limbs or who have lost the use of them.

Construction of these homes takes about 90 days from start to finish. Professional contractors along with volunteers are needed to help with the construction all the way down to the finishing touches of laying sod and planting flowers before keys are presented to the new owner.

Vicky Thomas, media relations representative for Homes for Our Troops expresses that helping an injured veteran is very fulfilling, "I've done a lot of things in my career, and I have to say this one is the most rewarding I've been involved with. It just makes you feel good."

Here's to you "Homes for Our Troops", Vicky Thomas, and all the other professionals, volunteers, individuals, and companies that pitch in to assist in this COOL organization...keep up the great work, keep building homes, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For more information about this COOL organization please visit:

www.homesforourtroops.org

What do you think of "Homes for Our Troops" and their efforts to build homes for injured soldiers throughout the country?

COOL hula-hooping

Rachel Niber, an 11-year-old of Discovery Bay, CA, dug into her savings of $44 and donated it to a relief fund for Haiti earthquake victims after her teacher discussed it in class. However, Rachel wanted to donate more and before long she was hula hooping for two hours as a way to raise money she could add to what she had already gave.

She has set a goal of $5,000 and has already raised nearly half of that. She is hopeful that she will be invited by others to publicly hula-hoop in hope of reaching her goal. Rachel not only wants to raise money but she would like to inspire other kids to give, "It could be Haiti, Chile, wherever. I just hope to show kids that they can make a difference."

Rachel's parents are delighted by her thoughtfulness and actions, her mother expresses, "...her level of commitment to her cause amazes and humbles me," her father simply states, "Her heart is good."

She has made her teacher, Jessie Lindell, proud, "I'm so proud of Rachel. Seeing kids take their time to make the world a better place is one of the greatest things I can hope to witness as a teacher...to see a student make an impact on the world like this is really amazing."

Here's to you Rachel, for discovering that you can make a difference in the world, even at such a young age and wanting to inspire other kids to do the same. Keep up the great work, keep making that hoop go round and round, stay positive, stay generous and STAY COOL!

If you would like to invite Rachel to hula-hoop in public to help her meet her goal, would like to donate to her cause, or would just like more information please visit:
www.moneyforhaiti.com

What do you think of young Rachel's efforts to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims?

a COOL retired infielder

Sticking with the theme of the last blog, Tony Womack is one COOL professional athlete. Mr. Womack is a retired baseball player who was an infielder for a couple of teams in Major League Baseball over a 13 year career. Tony has realized how hard work and some luck can benefit a person and is humbled by the success he has had. He also realizes the fortunate position playing professional sports has put him in to help others.

Tony is now a spokesman for Smart Start, a North Carolina based public-private initiative designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed by providing funding to all of the state's 100 counties. Mr. Womack has also created a Cover-to-Cover Literacy Program to inspire students in elementary and middle schools to become enthusiastic about reading.

Tony expresses that Smart Start has the same ideas he has, "It's all about our kids because the only way this world is going to survive is them. The only way they are going to survive is through education." He also feels that education itself is a great way of preventing children from dropping out of school, he sees it as a way for kids to cope with the ups and downs of life.

Here's to you Tony for inspiring the children of today to seeing the importance of an education, keep up the great work, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Tony Womack's efforts to get children interested in reading and education?

Information on Tony's inspiring efforts first appeared in a Wilmington, NC newspaper, StarNews by: Chuck Carree

a COOL quarterback

Bruce Gradkowski, quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and former quarterback of Seton-LaSalle High School and Toledo, knows how fortunate he has been to play football at it's highest level and has a grasp on what is really important, "I'm fortunate to have some connections because of what I do. What good are they if you can't use them to help other people? It doesn't matter if it's reading to a bunch of fifth-graders or helping a guy like Dom. Helping people should be what it's all about."

Dominic D'Eramo, a neighbor of Bruce's parents in Dormant, PA, is who he is referring to when he refers to a guy like Dom. Dom is a 38 year-old husband and father of two young children who has fought a rare form of stomach cancer and now faces more chemo after doctors found cancer cells in his colon.

Bruce recently committed to playing in a local charity golf tournament and asked if some of the proceeds could go towards Dom's medical expenses, C.J. Betters, a local Beaver County developer cut a $5,000 check without hesitation. This in not the best and biggest way Bruce has helped Dom battle his bouts with cancer.

Prior to his game against the Steelers last year, Bruce visited Dom and dropped off a signed jersey he wore in a game earlier in the year and a two page letter he wrote for him. The hand delivered letter talked about beating the odds, especially when they seem insurmountable. Bruce laid out the stats for Dom of how hard it is to make it in the NFL as a quarterback, basically stating that 1 out of every 600,000 high school quarterbacks make it that far. He continued to point out that if a guy like himself could make it then he can be the one guy to battle and beat cancer, he just has to keep believing. Dom expresses that he will never stop believing and will never give up.

How COOL of Bruce to give his time to visit Dom and to offer such inspiring words when he could be off partying it up and living life in the fast lane. Bruce chooses to inspire through not only his words but his actions as well, very COOL. If you want to question how inspiring Bruce can be just remember he is the quarterback who beat a No. 9 ranked Pitt team when he was at Toledo after throwing for over 400 yards and how can we Steeler fans forget last years game against the Raiders when he threw three fourth-quarter TD's to beat out beloved black and gold.

Here's to you Bruce, have a great year (just not against the Steelers, Nov. 21), continue to have a lucrative career in the NFL, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Bruce and his commitment to helping others?

A version of this story first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by: Ron Cook

COOL bags and COOL loaves

Talk about a really COOL 2 for 1 bargain, in Sturgeon, WI that's exactly what you will find. Robert Scaturo created and started selling reusable cloth shopping bags in his store for Earth Day to try and reduce the number of plastic bags his customers used to take home loaves of bread that were freshly baked on site.

The bags cost $3 and all proceeds will go to the "Seven Loaves Project", a project created by Mr. Scaturo's good friend, Ron "JR" Schoenfeld, who visited orphanages in Rwanda and learned the children only eat bread once a year and it takes three days to walk to the nearest bakery.

Mr. Schoenfeld was inspired to do something besides throwing money at the problem. He expresses that "Seven Loaves" isn't just a nutritional project but a vocational project as well. His efforts will eventually provide economical, environmentally friendly, and efficient earthen ovens to Rwanda so that 200 loaves of bread can be baked daily. These ovens will use no electricity and only small amounts of wood. The people will also learn a trade as they will be taught to bake bread.

It seemed a natural fit for Mr. Scaturo to help out his good friend, he already donates left over bread to a local food pantry and donates goods to local events and local organizations. The baker in him thought it would be COOL to help with a global cause and teach people in Rwanda to bake.

The pairing of these COOL ideas from Robert Scaturo and Ron "JR" Schoenfeld shows how one good idea can lead to another one. Here's to both of you, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Do you know of one cool idea that led to another one? What are they?

COOL bystanders

It is so COOL when bystanders, who can sometimes be described as total strangers, get involved and help someone who has been victimized by a fool or in this case, a couple of fools.

In Port St. Lucie, FLA a couple of fools attempted to snatch a purse from a woman who was loading her vehicle with items she had bought after a day of shopping. As the one man ran with the woman's purse and tried to hop into his friend's vehicle "numerous (COOL) bystanders" caught him to thwart their getaway.

The man driving the vehicle jumped out and threatened everyone with a baseball bat, after hitting the truck he exited from with it. The bystanders refused to back down and the two men were shortly apprehended by the local police.

It is not always recommended to get involved when someone has been victimized due to fearing for your own safety and best to call the proper authorities when witnessing a crime. However, these bystanders decided to get involved and not let these fools be successful in ruining an innocent woman's day. Here's to you "bystanders" for taking the time to get involved, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Have you ever gotten involved or known someone who has gotten involved to help an innocent victim of a senseless crime? What did you or the person you know do to help?

a COOL rock star

I know when I mention the words "Rock Star" it brings to mind fame, fortune, music, and for some it might bring to mind endless parties accompanied by booze, drugs and scantily clad women.

However, when I mention Jon Bon Jovi I hope it brings to mind his selfless efforts to provide affordable homes to the homeless and that's what makes him COOL, not his legendary status as a world famous musician.

Through his "Philadelphia Soul Foundation" he has provided 6 million dollars towards building affordable houses for the homeless in cities he plays a concert. Through this act he hopes to inspire others to find what moves them and to volunteer. He states that it is time to change from the decade of "me" to "we"-sounds to me a lot like what COOLITICS is all about and Jon definitely sounds like a COOLITICIAN!

Here's to you Jon, I know you get a lot of press and are world famous but I wanted to mention how COOL your efforts off stage to help others really are. Keep rock'n, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Talk about another rock star that is doing COOL things off stage. Who are they and what are they doing?

a COOL body part

A mother used to ask her son, "What is the most important part of the body?" The young boy would take many guesses throughout the years in hoping to get the correct answer. The woman's son at first thought sound was very important and guessed that the ears were the most important body part. His mother informed him that wasn't the correct answer, told him that many people are deaf, and to keep thinking about it and she would ask again soon.

Many years went past before the the woman asked her son again. Since the first attempt the little boy had been thinking about what the correct answer would be and was excited to guess the eyes because he thought sight was very important. Again, to his dismay, his mother informed him that many people were blind and that his answer was incorrect but commended him on his ability to really think.

As years past the young boy grew into a young man and continued to get his mother's question wrong. His mother informed him that he was getting smarter every year and was proud of the way he thought. Then one year the young man's grandfather died, everyone was crying and his mother asked him again as they were about to say there final good-byes, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my son?" He was surprised that she would ask him now. He had always thought that it was a game between just the two of them.

His mother informed him that though he was wrong in the past, his answers had showed how he had lived his life but today was the day he needed to learn this valuable and important lesson. His mother looked at him and said, "Dear, the most important body part is the shoulder."

The young man was puzzled at first and said, "Is it because it holds up my head?" His mother replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they are suffering. Everyone needs a shoulder to lean on sometime in their life and I hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder available when you need it."

That's when the man knew that the most important body part is not a selfish one-it is empathetic to the suffering and need of others.

If your shoulder is there for others I am positive that you will always have one available to you in your time of need. It's about having the time and strength to support others without wanting or expecting anything in return, that's what being COOL is all about. Stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

When was a time you offered your shoulder to someone or someone offered you one when you really needed it?

a COOL trip to the zoo

This month, the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium are offering free admission to those who donate a pair of PRESCRIPTION glasses. New Eyes for the Needy, a non-profit organization that works to improve the vision of poor people throughout the world to include children, adults, and seniors, will receive all donated glasses.

Dr. Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the zoo and aquarium, states, "Most of us have glasses that are just sitting in a drawer. Why not donate them and enjoy a visit to the zoo at the same time?"

The glasses will be collected at the gate and there is no limit on the number of PRESCRIPTION glasses a family donates.

Sounds like a very COOL trip to the zoo where those in need benefit and those that donate get to spend time at the zoo with family and friends through free admission. Here's to you Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium for providing such a COOL opportunity to those that donate and to those in need-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Do you know of another COOL venue that thinks about the needy and provides an opportunity to those who donate their time or possessions? What is it and what do they do?

a COOL story

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT
By: Unknown

A young man sat next to the bed of an older man, Hal a friend for over twenty years, and held his hand. Hal was dying, they both knew these next few days would be his last. They spent time reminiscing about his long life and talked about old friends. They chatted about his family and Hal offered sage wisdom and advice to a member of a younger generation.

At a lull in the conversation, Hal seemed to carefully consider what he was about to say next and squeezed the younger man's hand, gazed intently into his eyes and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "Nothing is more important than relationships." The younger man knew that this was somehow the pinnacle of Hal's life learning's as he considered all of his experiences--personal, professional, spiritual, and family, this one ultimate observation surfaced above the rest: "Nothing is more important than relationships."

"Don't get overly caught up in your career," Hal seemed to be saying, "Likewise, don't use people in order to achieve your goals, then throw them away. No project, no task should be pursued at the expense of friends and family. Remember, that in the end, only your relationships will truly matter, tend them well." Writer Og Mandino puts it this way: "Beginning today," he said, "treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

This story truly embodies the meaning of COOLITICS and what being COOL is all about. I would definitely consider Hal and writer Og Mandino COOLITICIANS! Remember, being COOL to others and yourself is what it's all about and the only thing that really matters at the end of the day.

Here's to Hal, Mr. Mandino, and the rest of you that talk and practice COOLITICS-stay positive, stay generous and STAY COOL!

Do you know another COOL life observation that embodies the meaing of COOLITICS? What is it and how did you come about it?

COOL dresses

As April begins it is time to start thinking about spring, which means yard work, house cleaning, and getting out of hibernation. It also means thinking about prom to many high school seniors across the world. It's a joyous time as it should be but for those girls who can't afford a dress, prom doesn't seem like an event to get excited about. In Chicago, one organization is looking to change that.

The Wish Upon a Wardrobe Foundation provides prom dresses along with accessories to girls who wouldn't be able to afford them otherwise. Deirdre White, President of the organization that runs the foundation states, "The girls are super happy when they walk away. It's empowering women and it's supporting the family...Financially, it's really hard for parents these days to have to say, 'No, we can't afford the dress for prom,' and girls can't go. But they leave here very empowered and feeling beautiful."

A private session is held for homeless girls but the event,from noon to 2pm on April 10, may be attended by any girl currently enrolled in high school. Wish Upon a Wardrobe is looking to expand soon after it receives over 4,000 dresses from a local Junior Women's League. The dresses, described as the latest in style and color along with the accessories can be purchased for only $20. The foundation held it's inaugural event last year and was considered a success.

Here's to you Deirdre White and The Wish Upon a Wardrobe Foundation for making the prom a joyous and memorable occasion for those that might not otherwise attend. Keep up the great work, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

If you would like to volunteer or donate dresses call Deirdre White at (847) 742-7930 or e-mail dwhite@ywcaelgin.org.

Do you know of an individual or organization like Deirdre or Wish Upon a Wardrobe? Who/What are they and what do they do?

a COOL museum

The Omaha Children's Museum opened its doors to children suffering with weakened immune systems Monday evening, March 29.

The museum staff, who have been trained and supervised by medical professionals, wipe down and sanitize everything. The items that can't be wiped down are put away.

Executive director of the museum, Lindy Hoyer, expresses that this COOL event, Carefee Kids which ran from 5:30pm-8:30pm, is not about drawing huge crowds to the museum, it's about creating normalcy in the lives of the children and their families who live with compromised immune systems. Hoyer also states, "Every family deserves the chance to learn, play, and enjoy time together and we're very proud to offer this event that makes a visit to the museum possible."

Here's to you Lindy Hoyer, your staff, and others at the Omaha Children's Museum that make an event like this possible. Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated and are very COOL! Stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Do you know of a museum or other venue that opens its doors to those suffering from compromised immune systems or any other ailment that makes it difficult to experience normalcy in their lives? What is it and what does it do?