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?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
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?
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?
Monday, December 13, 2010
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?
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?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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?
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?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
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?
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?
Monday, November 22, 2010
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?
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?
Monday, November 8, 2010
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?
* 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?
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