C.O.L.E.’s Foundation is an organization solely committed to empowering families and friends to take a stand in loving each other; to take the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and apply it to our lives.  Cole’s Foundation was started through the life of a 3-year-old boy who lost an eight week battle with Adreno Cortical Carcinoma Cancer.  He may have lost the battle here, but in the eyes of over a half million supporters, he won the victory in receiving his eternal reward.  Cole Ruotsala was, and will forever be, etched in the hearts and minds of thousands of people throughout this world.  God used this little boy to make people stop for a brief moment and consider the things that may forever change their lives.  Cole was a boy who went from being perfectly healthy to lying on his death bed and changing the world in eight short weeks.  

The goal for C.O.L.E.’s Foundation is to show the love of God to the world and to those who need Him most.  We are standing up to this killer we call cancer.  Right now, this second as you read this, there are seven children fighting for their lives who won’t make it through the day.  Seven families that will need the help and support of all of us to help them make it through.  Every school day 46 more children will be diagnosed with cancer.  Our government currently spends $14 billion dollars a year on the space program and only $35 million dollars to help prevent this killer called cancer.  It is time to stop trying to put life on Mars and start helping the lives we have here!  Right now!

One of the most important things that Cole taught us is that we need to “Be There.”  “Be There” is a constant reminder to ourselves of everything that could possibly make us who we are.  So, may “Be There” be a continued thought when we as parents are having difficulty in our personal lives.  If we are not there in every way for our children, then where are we?  When our children have something that means so much to them, we need to make sure we are there.  When they need someone to talk to, “Be There.”  When our wives have supper ready on the table, husbands, let's “Be There.”  When your family needs you most, through the joys and through the tears, “Be There.”  When the time comes to stand up for what is right, “Be There!”  When we have the opportunity to meet Cole, and more importantly, God, let's “Be There!”