the COOL outdoors

Justin Ristine, 11, wanted to go hunting like his father. Mikey Williamson, 8, also wants to experience the joys of hunting. The only obstacle standing in Justin's way was that he was born with only one arm and Mikey has only two fingers and uses a wheelchair due to complications from spina bifida. Thanks to Youth Outdoors Unlimited Justin was able to go hunting and get his first deer while Mikey is planning to go in November.

Youth Outdoors Unlimited, a Moses Lake, WA based organization founded by Cindy Carpenter, helps children with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, who have an interest in outdoor sports, go on hunting and fishing trips. The organization runs totally on donations and it supplies everything to include hunting safety classes, the equipment, the trip, the food, and carries liability insurance.

Justin's mother, Jennifer, is ecstatic about the program, "You're not out anything. It's a wonderful program for the kids." Justin fired one shot and bagged a three-point buck about 120 yards away. Youth Unlimited donated the $500 Remington 700 rifle that went through a $6,500 renovation donated by Aaron Davidson of Gunwerks in Wyoming which made it easier for him to shoot. Justin explains, "There was no kick, it was like shooting a BB gun. I was very, very happy." A butcher shop in Ephrata is processing the meat and Justin's parents are having the deer's head mounted. Both services are being done free of charge.

Jennifer Ristine did have her reservations about Justin going hunting, "I was scared to death. "I thought, 'My kid with a gun?" However, after meeting Cindy she agreed with her husband, Roy, to sign him up, "I just felt comfortable with her."

Here's to you Youth Outdoors Unlimited and Cindy Carpenter for helping kids dealing with disabilities experience the great outdoors-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For more information bout Youth Outdoors Unlimited visit them at www.youthoutdoorsu.org or call Cindy Carpenter directly at 509-431-1604

What do you think of the Youth Outdoors Unlimited program?

COOL heels

Some boots were made for walking but these cool heals were made for helping women in their twenties, thirties, and early forties regain a sense of themselves as they recover from cancer treatment. The Pink Heals Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that focuses on helping young women "reclaim their mojo."

Through fun programs that help women regain their confidence Pink Heals aims to help young women regain their strength and beauty. They do this because surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can damage a woman's looks and confidence as they try to cope with being in what should be the prime of their lives. The brutal treatments can make it rather difficult to find a "new normal".

Pink Heals was founded and created by "Lisa" as she finished treatment and she was overwhelmed with emotions that included depression that followed the end of treatment. She was overcome with fear and helplessness as the feeling of "actively fighting" ended. Most of those around her assumed everything was over and that she should return back to normal. Her confidence and sense of self were shattered as she felt isolated and too young to have cancer.

Here's to you "Lisa" and Pink Heals as you help these young women regain their sense of confidence and mojo-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Please check out WWW.PINKHEALS.ORG if you would like to learn more or just to donate.

What do you think of PINK HEALS and their mission? Do you know someone who lost their sense of self, confidence, or looks after the active fight against cancer was over and found it hard to return to normal?

COOL coffee

As one enters an upscale coffee house, one is expecting to spend a higher price for a hot beverage than at the local diner or restaurant. Some might think that spending top dollar for a latte at Starbucks is just a waste of money as the economy continues to struggle. However, Starbucks is looking to stimulate U.S. job growth through what they are calling a "Jobs for USA" program.

First, Starbucks is doing it's part to stimulate U.S job growth by hiring around 200 workers a day as they look to remodel existing stores and adding 200 more locations through the next year. Starbuck's Corp's CEO, Howard Schultz, isn't satisfied with those efforts and wants to do more.

Starbucks is teaming with Opportunity Finance Network, a nonprofit group that provides loans to small businesses and community groups. The coffee chain will begin to collect $5 donations this November 1st with 100% of the proceeds going towards loans for companies that can add jobs or lessen job losses. In the past, the network has given loans that have gone to charter schools and grocery stores nationwide. Mr. Shultz expresses, "This is about using Starbucks scale for good."

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, is confident in the impact that a program like this can have, "I think it's a really worthy effort. In theory, this is a great idea and should have impact."

The next time you grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage don't forget about bringing an extra $5 along with you. It's probably about the cost of a fancy latte but it will go towards giving the U.S. job growth a boost along with giving you a morning boost as well.

Here's to you Starbucks, Opportunity Finance Network, and all those who contribute to giving our economy a much needed caffeine high-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Starbucks program to boost the U.S. job growth? Would you be willing to donate $5 after spending money to buy your favorite hot beverage?