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Welcome to the
Cowboys Who Care
Foundation
2011-2023

Our Mission

Our mission was simple. We were a 100% volunteer 501c3 organization that was dedicated to provide smiles, support and free new, specially made cowboy and cowgirl hats to boys and girls across America with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. It is still our belief that there is nothing more precious than a child’s smile. We found that cowboy hats help create those beautiful smiles. After all, a cowboy hat is still a symbol of bravery, honor and now with your help, compassion.

Our Mission
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Our Story started with one special young lady

and a comedian

Cowboys Who Care Foundation is the brainchild of our Founder, William Lee Martin. In 2010 Martin, a comedian and writer, was asked to perform at a fundraising golf tournament for a young fan named Ashley Miller from Celina, TX, who was battling a rare form of cancer.
 
Martin said, “Ashley’s story had such an impact on me. And when she bravely lost her battle in June 2011, I knew I wanted to help other kids like her. Then one day I searched on my computer, ‘Kids with cancer – Images’ and found all these pictures of kids with big, beautiful smiles and bald heads. And in the mirror, I could see my cowboy hat and it hit me, these kids need cowboy hats.”

 

Martin reached out to Resistol and then company president, Stan Redding and they jumped on board from the start. Turned out Stan's stepson Spencer had been through years of cancer treatments and Stan said, "Bill, you have no idea how this story hits home with me. What ever we can do to help, we will. 

 

Together, Cowboys Who Care and Resistol have given away a little over 10,000 hats since its inception in 2012.

 

In 2023, Resistol took over the daily operations of the charity with the hopes that they will take it an even bigger level and reach more folks and to benefit more and more kids. 
 
Ashley's smile, her strength and her spirit will always be in our hearts. She inspired a movement. And she will never be forgotten.

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Our Story

Ashley Miller
Our Inspiration 
 

Meet our
Founding

Members
 

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Board Members
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William Lee Martin, Comedian
Co-Founder

Comedian William Lee Martin is the founder and proudly served as the CEO  and President of Cowboys Who Care Foundation from 2012-2023. He also wrote the mission statement, designed the logo, the tagline and was the  #1 ambassador for the cause for so many years. His hope in turning over the day to day operations of the charity was to help launch it into the next level. 



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Michele Martin is also the founder and proudly served as the CFO of Cowboys Who Care Foundation from 2012-2023.
Michele set up the charity, was relentless in setting up hospital visits, and ran the annual golf tournament. 

Michele Martin, Executive
Co-Founder 

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Lisa Bruce served as Operations Manager of Cowboys Who Care from 2018-2023.  She was instrumental in executing and coordinating the Request a Hat program which is how the charity  was able to serve the nation's kids during the pandemic of 2020.

Lisa Bruce, Executive
Operations Manager

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Pete Carr served on the board of Cowboys Who Care from 2016-2023.  Pete's passion for the charity helped expand it's reach in the cowboy lifestyle market, raising the reach of the charity. Pete was also responsible for moving the charity to Resistol.

Pete Carr, Executive
Board Member

Here's a
Couple of Videos
to make you smile

Videos

Here's a song to make you smile called, "Every Kid Wants to be a Cowboy" sung by Bradley Banning  (writers Bradley Banning, David Banning & William Lee Martin) featuring some of our hospital visits plus a word from former Resistol President, Ricky Bolin and current , Devin Marcum on what Cowboys Who Care means to them. 

Contact Us

Find Us on

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Cowboys Who Care Foundation

2011-2023

600 S Main Street, Suite 200, Rhome, TX 76078

©2025 Cowboys Who Care Foundation 2011-2023

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