Seirra Leone, located in West Africa, is one of the poorest nations in the world. While mineral, agricultural and fishery resources are abundant, its physical and social infrastructure have not fully recovered from the civil war that ended in 2002, and social disorder has hindered economic development. Coolibar’s friends at OneVillage Partners, a Minneapolis, MN based non-profit, have been working with people in Eastern Seirra Leone since 2006 to provide assistance to rural villages and stimulate growth within these deprived communities.

Raising awareness about melanoma can save lives, and catching it early is crucial. In an effort to get the word out to a massive audience, on October 9th the MRF teamed up with the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team to hold a Melanoma Awareness Day during the big game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Last Saturday (8/27/11) my family and I attended the first ever SunAWARE fundraising event at Panino’s Sports Bar in North Oaks, MN. The event raised money to publish “Connor’s Right Field Save” book for Little League players and their families about the five simple, universally recognized steps to prevent and detect skin cancers. I wasn’t sure what to expect, it was after all, the first SunAWARE event.

Here at Coolibar we work hard to educate adults and kids about the importance of staying SunAWARE. Our friends at Abbey’s Hope, a local Minnesota non-profit, are just as serious about pool safety.

Regale with Coolibar’s Creative Specialist, Anna, and her husband Bevin on their culturally immersed journey to Nicaragua. Hiking volcanoes, cooking exotic meals, attempting newbie surfing and visiting a young girl they sponsor though a charity organization is just a taste of how this couple travels. Oh, and they did it all while learning and speaking in Spanish, which they claim is definitely not their first language!

The intense sun and extreme heat has been taking its toll on many volunteers and residents in Joplin, MO who are working to restore the town after a devastating tornado touched-down on May 22, 2011. Sun hats donated to relief efforts offer protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays and the extreme heat.

Recently Coolibar was contacted by ABC’s 20/20 about a story on the persecution of those with albinism in Tanzania. Through this connection Coolibar partnered with a non-profit organization called Under the Same Sun, which provides resources to assist those disadvantaged by disability, discrimination and poverty allowing an increased quality of life. Coolibar donated sun protective clothing and hats to two schools in Tanzania, a safe refuge for children with albinism.