Cowboys Who Care Foundation 2011-2023
"Because every kid wants to be a cowboy or cowgirl"
a non-profit 501-c3
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 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.
Ashley Miller
Our Inspiration
Meet our
Founding
Members
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.
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
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
