He was the President of Carol’s Kitchen:

Carol’s Kitchen is a non-profit organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in the San Gorgonio Pass. We are not your ordinary soup kitchen, thanks to the quality products and donations we use to prepare meals and donate clothing.

Both he and his wife Arlene are wonderful people. Our thoughts are with his family.

Jim Ragan of Beaumont, Founder of Carol’s Kitchen, Passed Away November 6, 2011 (Operation Kidz Komfort) - Children's Wellness

Operation Kidz Komfort Featured in Discover the Pass (Operation Kidz Komfort) - Children's Wellness

Meet Jordan she advocates for children with her disease ~ “Be A Voice! Be Heard!”

Jordan was born with non-functioning intestines and colon. This makes her very sick. She had a bagless appendectomy when she was 6 and that has helped a little. Before her surgery she was sick all the time with pneumonia and several ailments that I had never heard of. Since her surgery, she has gotten some relief, but she does have A LOT of bad days. She has to be hooked to an IV pump that goes into her belly button for a couple hours per day and has to take medications 6 times a day for the rest of her life. Doing all this is supposed to keep her digestive system regulated, but it doesn’t usually work. She usually ends up in the hospital at least once every 6 months. It has gotten better since her appendectomy because she used to have a BM once every 8 weeks, but now it is every one to two weeks. This is much better but not good enough, so I spend A LOT of time doing research to see what else I can do to help her.

I try and keep her as active as I can. To keep her mind busy, she plays soccer, is a cheerleader, and plays basketball. Also, she is involved with a swim team on top of attempting to make it to school on a daily basis. Her condition causes a lot of discomfort and side affects. Her legs do not work right because there is too much pressure on her nervous system. She often has a fever and is almost always nauseous, but through all that she has a great attitude, and is always living life to the fullest!! She is an inspiration to me. She is proof that no matter what — life is what you make it!!!

Our newest mission is to raise awareness because if I hadn’t stumbled upon the right doctor when she was 5 years old, she would not be in our lives today! As a newborn, she did not have a BM until she was almost three weeks old. Later, it just got worse. They moved around a lot so she saw many doctors and they all said the same thing …

“Give her prunes. It is no big deal.”

I am sorry but burying a 5 year old would have been a big deal to me! But you hear this over and over and you start to think that maybe they are right after all! They are the doctors, right? Not right! If there is something about your child that seems wrong, you need to push and push until you get answers! Go to as many doctors as you need to and find that one that will help you get those answers! Now that I know differently, I am very hard on her doctors. They know exactly how I feel and if they are not going to work hard to help her, then they can get fired and we will go to the next!

Awareness Is Knowledge at O.K.K.

2011 Youth Advocate Jordan (Operation Kidz Komfort) - Children's Wellness

Her mother, Vickie Orr, of Beaumont, was searching online for a support group for Jordan last August when she stumbled upon Operation Kidz Komfort, a nonprofit organization that helps Pass-area children with chronic or life-threatening diseases. A few months later, 8-year-old Jordan had stepped up to support other children with medical problems.

Garden of Hope ~ Day of Caring Ribbon Cutting

United Way Volunteers, OKKidz Volunteers, City of Beaumont Volunteers, Beaumont Police Chief Coe, Mayor De Forge, Founder Zachary Cove ribbon cutting.

Day of Caring Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Operation Kidz Komfort) - Children's Wellness

Allie had been having trouble getting over simple infections and was suffering from nighttime fevers that were difficult to control. In mid April 2011, Allie’s parents were devastated with the news their beautiful little girl had Leukemia.

On April 28th, 2011, Allie was hospitalized due to her inability to fight off infection. Several specialized teams moved in quickly to evaluate Allie’s condition. What seemed like a never ending stream of diagnostic tests were performed to determine the cause of Allie’s distress and as a result, the family learned she was originally diagnosed incorrectly. The Doctor’s at Loma Linda Medical Center determined Allie was suffering from a rare blood disease Known as Aplastic Anemia.

That is the positive.

The negative is just that.-NEGATIVE-.

Aplastic Anemia can be treated in several ways including medications, blood transfusions, bone marrow or stem cell transplants, chemotherapy, or a combination of these therapies. The treatments have been found in many cases to rid the patient of symptoms and even cure the disease. But the treatment is lengthy and expensive.

Allie’s family members are no strangers to devastating news. In December of 2009, her family learned Allie’s uncle, Legendary Freestyle Motocross Pioneer Mike “CINQ” Cinqmars, had passed away at the age of 31. Cinqmars infused Allie with his Warrior spirit and love of flying.

Allie’s family is doing the best they can but they need a ton of support to get through this challenge. What ever support you have to offer would be greatly appreciated. Donations welcome on our website in message box state Allie 100% will be donated to Allie`s account provided by Operation Kidz Komfort Foundation.

Meet OKKidz Little Rock Star Allie (Operation Kidz Komfort) - Children's Wellness

Scott Borchetta founded independent label Big Machine Records in September 2005 and serves as its President/CEO. In its first year Big Machine scored its first #1 single (Jack Ingram’s “Wherever You Are”), placed five singles in the Country Top 30, received a nomination for Record Label of the Year, and placed all three of the label’s three new artist releases in the Top 10 Most-Played New Artists of 2006 (as monitored by Mediabase and reported by USA Today and Country Aircheck).

Big Machine’s signature artist Taylor Swift (the CMA and AP’s reigning Entertainer of the Year and the American Music Awards’ 2009 Artist of the Year) was the best-selling all-genre artist of 2008 and her current album, Fearless, repeated her success when it became 2009’s highest-selling album of the year across all genres. Fearless – the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and American Music Awards’ 2009 Country Album of the Year – has spent more weeks at #1 atop the Billboard Top Album chart than any other album in the last 10 years with an astounding 11 weeks at #1. Taylor re-wrote the record books when her worldwide smash single “Love Story” became the first ever Country crossover single to hit #1 on the Billboard and USA Today Top 40 airplay charts. Her follow-up single, “You Belong With Me,” repeated the same feat.

Big Machine Records, was Billboard’s #1 Top Country Album Imprint of 2009, decorating it as the highest-selling record label group on Music Row. In 2009, Big Machine partnered with Universal Republic to create Republic Nashville. The Big Machine Label Group’s current artist roster includes Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Jewel, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram, Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry, Edens Edge, Eli Young Band and Sunny Sweeney.

In 4 years, Big Machine Records artists have received 6 Country Music Association Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 4 Academy of Country Music Awards, 4 CMT Music Awards, 3 Teen Choice Awards, 1 MTV Video Music Award as well as 13 GRAMMY Nominations and 5 People’s Choice Award Nominations.

About Scott Borchetta:
A native Californian and accomplished musician, Borchetta’s love for music began in early childhood when he developed an appreciation for the art by listening to as many styles of music as possible. That diverse influence afforded him the opportunity of playing a wide variety of instruments in various bands before moving to Nashville in 1981 and devoting himself full time to the industry side of the music business.

After a short stint in the mailroom of his father Mike’s independent promotion company, Borchetta started climbing the ladder and soon had power players heads spinning faster than a top in a hurricane. His willingness to react quickly to the changing music business led Borchetta to become one of the top radio promotion go-to-guys over the last decade and now he sits at the helm of Big Machine Records and the newly formed Valory Music Co.

Kelly Rich:

Kelly is the VP Sales, Marketing & Interactive. Kelly has been a huge push for Big Machine working with Operation Kidz Komfort. On May 3, 2011 for the Sullen Angels/Red Cross ” TSUNAMI RELEIF BENEFIT ” Kelly made it possible to donate a signed guitar by Rascal Flatts & Taylor Swift memorbilia. We look forward to the events and relationship in the future. It was a dream of Josh Faulkner, Chief Brand Officer to reach out to a corporate industry and get support from top Artists, Athletes & Companies. For Big Machine to step up and be apart of our vision shows people we are here to stay.

Pic # 1: Taylor Swift, Scott Borchetta & Kelly Rich

Pic # 2: From Left: Operation Kidz Komfort`s Ambassador & Pro Women Racer Sara Price Sullen Clothing Co-Owner: Jeremy Hanna, Operation Kidz Komfort Co-Founder Zachary Cove Huntington Ink Owner: John Huntington,