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?