Thank You Huell Howser

Huell Howser, a local television legend, passed away earlier this week and I felt the need to honor him. His show, California's Gold, documented Huell traveling around the state and visiting interesting places and the people connected to those places.

Whether he was visiting an historic landmark or a local restaurant or farm, Huell made the ordinary, extraordinary. His energy and genuine excitement made everything he was doing engaging and interesting. No sarcasm or irony. Just genuine enthusiasm. In a world where the bad news always seems to drown out the good, Huell Howser was a refreshingly positive beacon of what's good about all of us.

If you aren't familiar with his work, I encourage you to go on YouTube and watch some of the many videos available featuring Huell. You'll find plenty of parodies and imitators but you'll also find some classic Huell Howser interviews. Like Huell talking to colorful locals at the Bagdad Cafe or Huell and the avocado eating dog.

Huell taught me that everyone has a story and everyone's story, if told by a good storyteller, can be interesting.

Thanks Huell, for making California into a magical place. A place full of amazing people, places and things.


Cat Crimins

"If you have a good story, it doesn’t have to be overproduced. I want our stories to reveal the wonders of the human spirit and the richness of life in California, including its history, people, culture and natural wonders."  - Huell Howser

Happy Birthday Amelia

I have always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart. She was a pioneer, an adventurer and she is at the center of one of the world's greatest mysteries. Seventy five years ago this month her Lockheed Electra disappeared somewhere in the Pacific Ocean during the last leg of her around the world flight. Did her plane run out of gas and crash into the ocean? Did she and her navigator land on a deserted island and die as castaways? We still don't know the truth but hopefully one day we will.

In honor of Amelia Earhart's 115th Birthday we have a new podcast for your listening pleasure. My friend Olivia and I discuss the aviatrix's accomplishments, her world records and her disappearance. We also discuss the new search for plane by The International Group For Historical Aircraft Recovery or TIGHAR for short. If you're an Amelia Earhart fan, give it a listen. You might learn something new or remember something you've forgotten.

Cat Crimins

Pride Season 2012!

Pride Season 2012!

The 2012 Pride Festival has begun! Last month we kicked off the season with Phoenix Pride. Phoenix wins the prize of hottest Pride event so far. The temperature reached 107F on Sunday. But there was still a great turn out! The Village People, Chely Wright and Vanessa Carlton all graced the stage and luckily we had perfect view from our booth!

Thanks Phoenix! See you next year!


TomboyTeez's next stop on the Pride tour is Long Beach! May 19th and 20th! See you there!

Cat Crimins
 Tomboy In Charge

January Charity of the Month - Team in Training

In 2008 I completed an Olympic distance Triathlon. Notice I used the word “completed” and not “competed”. My objective was to finish, not win. I did finish the tri, but I didn’t do it alone. I trained for and participated in the triathlon with Team in Training. TNT, as it is affectionately referred to, trains athletes for endurance events to raise money and awareness for the Leukimia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). It’s the LLS’s mission to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

I decided to sign up for a triathlon not because I like blisters and chaffing, but because 16 months prior I lost a good friend to cancer. Every participant has their own reasons for joining the team. Some like the challenge of an endurance event (triathlons, marathons, cycling and hiking), some have lost loved ones to cancer, some are cancer survivivers, and some are living with cancer.

This is how it works... You sign up for an event, TNT’s professional coaches and returning alumni (or mentors as they’re called) prepare and train you for your event and you fundraise for the LLS.

According to their website, TNT has trained over half a million runners, walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers and raised over $1.2 billion to fund lifesaving cancer research. TNT will always have a very special place in my heart and that’s why I’m very happy that they are our first charity of the month of 2012.

A portion of sales for every shirt sold in January goes to the Leukimia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. So now’s the time to pick up a tee you’ve been wanting and help support this wonderful charity, and help TomboyTeez Give Back, one t-shirt at a time.

Cat Crimins

Tomboy In Charge

 

December Charity of the Month

Our December Charity of the Month is The Sunshine Kids. That means a portion of the proceeds from every shirt sold in December goes to support this great charity.



It’s The Sunshine Kids Foundation’s goal to add quality of life to children with cancer by providing them with exciting, positive group activities, so they may once again do what kids are supposed to do... have fun and celebrate life!

“The Sunshine Kids Foundation was founded by Rhoda Tomasco in 1982 while she was serving as a volunteer in the pediatric cancer unit of a hospital in Houston, Texas. After seeing the loneliness and depression among children during their extended hospital treatments, Rhoda had a vision to provide these young cancer patients with opportunities to participate in positive group activities which promoted self-esteem, personal accomplishment and just plain old fashioned fun! Today, that vision has been realized many times over, as thousands of children from hospitals across the country have reaped the benefits of The Sunshine Kids Foundation’s many programs and national and regional events. Funded by personal contributions, corporations and foundations, the Sunshine Kids continues, as it has since its inception, to provide all of its activities completely free of charge to the children’s families and hospitals.”

– The Sunshine Kid’s Website

So go to TomboyTeez.com and pick up a tee or two and make a difference today. Help us save the world, one t-shirt at a time. Visit our website to learn more about our TomboyTeez Gives Back programs, and for a look at this and the other charities we are supporting.

Thanks,
Cat Crimins

November Charity Of The Month

Our November Charity of the Month is Equality Now. That means a portion of the proceeds from every shirt sold in November goes to support this amazing charity that fights for women’s rights all over the world. Some of the issues that Equality Now is fighting globally are sex trafficking, female genital mutilation and sexual violence against girls and woman. 

“Equality Now works for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women and girls around the world. Working with grassroots women’s and human rights organizations and individual activists since 1992, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support efforts to stop these abuses.”

– Equality Now Website

Equality Now also happens to be a charity that Joss Whedon is very passionate about. And we just happen to love Joss Whedon, so we are very proud to be helping out Equality Now as much as we can. His passion for this organization has inspired Firefly fans everywhere. Can’t Stop the Serenity is a fan-run fundraiser that screens Serenity in theaters to raise money for Equality Now. Can’t Stop the Serenity has raised over half a million dollars for Equality Now in just 5 years.

Why Joss Whedon inspires so much loyalty and devotion among his fans is a topic for another email. Why Joss Whedon is passionate about Equality Now is quite simple. As long as women around the world are victims of violence and discrimination, Equality Now will be there fighting the good fight. Watch Joss’s inspirational call to action.

So get a Firefly inspired tee, or any TomboyTeez.com tee and make a difference today. Help us save the world, one t-shirt at a time. Visit our website to learn more about our TomboyTeez Gives Back programs, and for a look at this and the other charities we our supporting.

Our October Charity of the Month

Our October Charity of the Month is one that is very dear to me personally. I have been a part of many non-profit organizations and charity events, but Shane's Inspiration is one of my favorites. Not only do they do wonderful things for families with all abilities, but they are simply a great bunch of people to be around!

The mission of Shane's Inspiration is to foster a bias-free world for children with disabilities through the creation of inclusive playgrounds and programs.

Shane's Inspiration was co-founded in 1998 by Tiffany Harris and her friends, Catherine Curry-Williams and Scott Williams in memory of their son, Shane Alexander. Shane's Inspiration has evolved into a widely recognized, international non-profit, creating Universally Accessible Playgrounds and programs that integrate children of all abilities socially, physically and emotionally, fostering acceptance, friendship and understanding. To date they have created 40 playgrounds, 3 in conjunction with the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic - Paralympic Games, as well as the first accessible playground in the country of Mexico.

Shane's Inspiration's full spectrum service programs work in partnership with municipalities, community groups and families to ensure the successful fruition of universally accessible playground. They are the only non-profit organization implementing full curriculum ability awareness educational programming that works in tandem with accessible playgrounds, creating a powerful global inclusionary awareness legacy which transforms the lives of thousands of children each year.

So please buy one of our teez, and a portion of all the sales in October goes to help support this wonderful organization. Stop by their website to see how else you can help. They need volunteers for their play dates and for their events. This is a very rewarding organization to work with. These children will amaze and move you, and the organizers will become family.

Warmest regards,




Allison Brockford
Managing Director