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?

a COOL artist

Sheila Lengle, 64-year-old part-time sales consultant, passionate artist, and breast cancer survivor is donating %50 of the proceeds from a silent auction for one of her paintings "Amy's Bouquet". This painting and several others of her original works are showing at Diane Venti's gallery on Sept. 23rd from 6-9pm. Ten percent of all sales will benefit breast cancer research.

Sheila believes she has not only survived cancer but that she has thrived over the disease. Today she show cases her art on her own website www.lengleart.com, produces Artcards for a kids store, paints wall murals, and is about to start art classes for kids. She also has a long term goal of openning another art gallery similiar to ones she owned in the past.

Sheila describes her art as being "bold, big strokes of vibrant colors." Please visit her website if you would like to experience her bright world of colors and get a hint of her survival attitude.

Here's to you Sheila for having the courage to face the battle of breast cancer and the COOL attitude to thrive and give back to others-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

Experience Sheila's art at Diane Venti's Gallery: West Seattle's Alki Arts, 2828 Alki Ave. S.W.

What do you think of Sheila's will to thrive after facing breast cancer? What do you think of her art made up of "vibrant colors"?

COOL roller coaster riders

This past weekend was spent with family at Cedar Point riding thrilling roller coasters and eating good but not good for you park food such as french fries and ice cream. Throw in a few games and winning prizes and you have one COOL weekend. One couldn't ask for anything more.

However, there were a group of friends riding one roller coaster with us and they were the definition of COOL, good friends. One of the group of friends appeared to be legally blind as he wore big sunglasses that wrapped around his face. This man, they called "Shark", was sitting in front of my niece on one of the coasters. As the coaster whipped around bends and ascended and descended the tracks at a torrid pace, the man sitting beside Shark and the woman in front of him started yelling at him that he better not throw up. As the coaster came to a stop, readying to allow its passengers off the two friends of Shark began to tell him to turn to his right so that he might not hit them with any leftovers from lunch.

At this time, we did not realize that Shark was probably blind until we had exited the ride and were continuing our way to the next coaster when we witnessed the man sitting besides Shark helping him as he appeared to still be wobbly from his ride. The man had Shark's hands and was guiding him. I couldn't imagine riding a roller coaster without being able to see the curves and hills.

Prior to getting on the coaster as we were strapping ourselves in, Shark was having trouble buckling his seat belt and commented that he fit in the ride last year and his friend mentioned to him that he obviously gained weight over the past year.

We would see Shark and his friends two more times during that day and both times he had a hand on a friend's shoulder to help guide him through the busy amusement park. It is hard enough to navigate one's way around with a pair of good eyes as people make their way to their favorite rides. The pace is quick and people can be relentless and unforgiving along their way.

Watching Shark's friends joke and kid with him all the while caring for him during their trip to Cedar Point was a COOL experience. They obviously cared enough about him to make sure that his experience in the amusement park was a safe one all the while letting him see that he was one of them and would get no slack no matter how poor his vision was. Here's to you Shark's friend's for not only making his experience a cool one but ours one as well-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Shark's friends and how they treat him? How would you treat a legally blind friend and would you accompany them to an amusement park and ride roller coasters?

COOL lemonade

This past July 29th in Dell Rapids, SD Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) set up shop in the city park to raise money for children cancer research. Josie Hansen, an alumni of Dell Rapids High School, was there working for her third consecutive year, "I've always wanted to help kids, and this is something that's tragic and no child should have to deal with it."

You can find Alex's Lemonade Stands all over the country. Founded by Alexandra Scott when she was four years old and being treated for the type of cancer called Neuroblastoma, the lemonade stands have raised over 45 million dollars over the past 10 years. Alexandra was able to raise $2,000 at her first stand and donated the money to the doctors that helped her, "When I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand and give the money to the doctors to allow them to help other kids, like they helped me."

Alex passed away in 2004 at the age of 8 but not before raising $1 million, with the help of others who were inspired by her and set up their own lemonade stands to assist her in her quest, for childhood cancer research.

Today her dream lives on through he family which set up the ALFS in 2005. The money raised has helped fund more than 200 research projects, create a travel program to help support families of children undergoing treatment, and develop resources to help people everywhere affected by childhood cancer.

As Josie Hansen embodies Alex's spirit of helping others she states, "I don't plan on giving up anytime soon. It's something I'm very passionate about."

Here's to Alex, her family, and others who continue to do her work and keep her dream alive-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

For further information, to set up your own stand, or to donate:
www.alexlemonade.org

What do you think of Alex's courage and those that continue to keep her dream alive? Would you be interested in hosting a lemonade stand for such a good cause?

COOL hats

Clifford Nulph 85-year-old of Saxonburg, PA broke his hip a few years ago and has been confined to a wheelchair since. Instead of allowing his disability to keep him down, he decided to dive in and start knitting hats. He figures he has designed and produced over 400 hats to go along with Steelers dolls and sock slippers, "I don't think that I've made two the same. I design my own patterns and choose the colors."

Clifford and his wife of 58 years, Shirley, donate the hats to many different charities to include the Cabot United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, and a local food bank. Families that have benefited from their donation have numbered at least 200. Susan Shaltes of Saxonburg and the Cabot United Methodist Church food bank coordinator states, "It's nice he thinks of the families. He's given so many away, who knows where they are."

The whole hat craze started when Clifford's daughter gave him a loom and taught him how to use it. Shirley states, "My daughter brought in the loom to teach him how to us it and she said 'Don't tell him, Mom, but that's therapy.'" Shirley also expresses that Clifford was beginning to lose upper body strength and this helped along with keeping him busy, "If he didn't have anything to do, it would drive him nuts--and me, too. He has to be busy."

Clifford, a retired heavy-equipment operator, acknowledges that you would never have seen him making hats prior to his injury and a nephew teases him that he wouldn't believe it in a thousand years that he would be making hats. Now, Clifford realizes that it's a hobby to stand the test of time, "I plan to keep it up as long as I can do it and I'm able. When you're 85, you never know."

Here's to you Mr. Clifford Nulph for not allowing your disability to keep you down and for thinking of others with your knew hobby-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Clifford's new hobby and his ability to handle his disability?

a COOL family

Lance Cpl. Nicholas O'Brien's family received the most horrible news from Afghanistan, he had been killed by an explosion of a roadside bomb. His best friend, Lance Cpl. Josh Cawthorn, who was within five meters of him, was sent off a bridge and into the water. Fellow Marines dragged him out of the water. Josh's right side of his face was crushed and he lost his right eye.

Josh has been through a couple of major reconstructive surgeries and is on the path of recovery that doctors estimate will take eight to ten months. Josh pushes through as he still mourns the death of his best friend.

The O'Briens, struggling with the loss of their son, have made a very generous and cool gesture. They have asked that instead of sending flowers to their son's funeral, donations be made to The Josh Cawthorn Fund.

The Josh Cawthorn Fund
C/O Shady Brook Baptist Church
2940 Belmeade Drive
Charlotte, NC 28214

Stacy Cawthorn, Josh's mother, is overwhelmed by the gesture, "It's beyond words on how much appreciation I have for them. Josh has one more set of parents now. They will be part of our family."

Here's to the O'Brien's for realizing the struggles of others as they mourn the loss of their own son-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of the O'Brien's gesture?

a COOL lesson

As Katelyn Beamish, an 11-year-old Oswego, IL resident, started to learn to walk she was attempting to beat another family member when it came to accomplishing the monumental feat, her father, "I learned to move when my dad was in a wheelchair, and I took my first steps as he tried to walk in his walker. I remember seeing my dad next to me, trying to walk with me."

Katelyn's father, Michael Beamish, was making a routine traffic stop as a West Chicago police officer when a car hit him head on, dragged him, and ran over his legs. He spent a week in a coma, endured 10 surgeries, returned home in a wheelchair, and was unable to walk. He was released from the hospital about a month and a half after the accident and entered physical therapy with the need to learn to walk again.

Katelyn was beginning to try and stand up at the same time Michael started his rehab, "I was able to get up in a walker, but I was in a lot of pain doing it. Katelyn was progressing naturally. It actually became a thing in our family to see who would walk first. Katelyn ended up beating me, but not by much."

As they both progressed towards their goals they realized the importance of each step along the way, Katelyn was attempting to take her first unassisted steps and Michael was fighting to stand and walk again, "None of the doctors thought he would walk again, but he proved them all wrong," Katelyn proudly announces.

Today, Michael is able to walk but unable to return to his job as a police officer. He does help coach Katelyn's soccer but chronic pain keeps him from participating in the game as he stands on the sidelines and cheers. Katelyn expresses that her dad is doing pretty well despite the pain and is a role model,"We are all very proud of our dad for all that he has accomplished and teaching us that nothing is too hard to overcome."

Michael realizes how lucky he is, "I am doing better. I am so lucky to be alive; every day is Father's Day now."

Here's to you Officer Michael Beamish for overcoming a major accident, the pain, and for teaching such a cool lesson to your daughter and others-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!

What do you think of Officer Michael Beamish's will to walk again and the lesson he taught his daughter?