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Our Story
Hey, everyone! I am so happy you purchased my coffee! I wanted to share a little bit about why I started a coffee business and the story behind it.
When I was 18, I began volunteering at an incredible place called St. Vincent’s, a health and wellness facility in Birmingham, Alabama. I took on a variety of roles there and quickly realized how much I loved working at St. Vincent’s. The only downside? The jobs I was doing weren’t paid positions. I guess that’s why it’s called “volunteer” work”—haha! That led my family and me to ask, “What could be a meaningful opportunity for me—one that pays, is something I truly enjoy, and allows me to continue seeing my friends at St. Vincent’s 119 every day?” And that’s when the idea was born—why not start a coffee business? St. Vincent’s didn’t have any coffee available for my friends and patrons on the campus to buy. With the help of the St. Vincent’s Foundation and their generous grant, I launched my first coffee cart on February 1, 2023. |
At first, we saw this as a way for me to stay connected with my friends and community, provide a valuable service, and have a job where I could earn a steady income in a meaningful way. This amazing opportunity allowed me to support myself and work toward my personal goals. We started selling coffee and are having a blast doing it. Before long, customers fell in love with our personalized merchandise—but most of all, the coffee! People kept asking where they could buy it, which led us on an exciting journey to brand my own coffee with Amavida Coffee and Trading Company in Florida.
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Now we are taking Kyle’s Cool Beans to the retail market—on our website and in Piggly Wiggly stores—and we also formed the company as a nonprofit entity. The reason? Our bigger vision is to use the money we earn from coffee and merch sales for something greater. I’m passionate about helping my friends and other adults with significant disabilities find purpose—whether that’s through employment, assisting them in starting their own business like I did, or pursuing their own dreams.
I can’t imagine my life without this business, the friendships I’ve built, and, most importantly, the sense of purpose and belonging it has given me. I hope Kyle’s Cool Beans inspires others with significant disabilities to take that leap, follow their dreams, and chase their passions—maybe even by starting their own business!
“I want to give a shout-out to my best friend Lizzie McGynn for helping me tell my story.”
I can’t imagine my life without this business, the friendships I’ve built, and, most importantly, the sense of purpose and belonging it has given me. I hope Kyle’s Cool Beans inspires others with significant disabilities to take that leap, follow their dreams, and chase their passions—maybe even by starting their own business!
“I want to give a shout-out to my best friend Lizzie McGynn for helping me tell my story.”
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Support Kyle’s Cool Beans.It is our purpose to offer sustainably sourced organic coffee with our partner Amavida Coffee and Trading Company. You can help power our mission. Every donation contributes to growing our business so that we can achieve our mission of providing employment and disability-forward housing opportunities for people with disabilities. You can help by sharing about us with your friends, family, and on social media. Every donation makes a difference!
“I am a human being. I think everybody born is born with talent. We all come from the creator, trailing wisps of glory." Maya Angelou (1928-2014) |
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Testimonials
"Kyle's Cool Beans has a rich and soothing taste; seeing Kyle's smile and grabbing a cup of Cool Beans coffee at One-Nineteen is the perfect combination to get my workday off to an amazing start!"
Damian Deyampert, Personal Trainer
"Kyle's Cool Beans coffee cart is a welcome addition to the One Nineteen campus.
I appreciate the careful considerations that were put into providing their customers with organic, specialty, high-grade coffee served in compostable, biodegradable cups. No corners were cut with this mobile coffee cart (except for a few corners while moving the cart from point A to point B in our large building!). Kyle and his staff offer a welcoming place for people to gather while enjoying their cup of coffee. They have created fellowship and a feeling of community everywhere the coffee cart can be found. A big thank you to Kyle and his staff'!
Brenda Coyer, Fitness Group Exercise Lead
I appreciate the careful considerations that were put into providing their customers with organic, specialty, high-grade coffee served in compostable, biodegradable cups. No corners were cut with this mobile coffee cart (except for a few corners while moving the cart from point A to point B in our large building!). Kyle and his staff offer a welcoming place for people to gather while enjoying their cup of coffee. They have created fellowship and a feeling of community everywhere the coffee cart can be found. A big thank you to Kyle and his staff'!
Brenda Coyer, Fitness Group Exercise Lead
"From the moment I met Kyle, he has amazed me. He has taught me so much about connection and joy. It's easy for some of us to see people with challenges similar to Kyle's and just smile and move on. We think the only way to connect with people is by having a conversation, both parties actively speaking. Well, let me tell you, Kyle McGee has taught me much more about communication and connection than anyone I have ever encountered. He genuinely lights up and has this amazing infectious grin when he sees or hears people that he knows. He greets me like no other person in my life, with the sweetest and most unique expression of welcome.
I love to stand around and watch as he directs his power chair towards his friends with his own way of speaking, waving, and reaching out to connect with them...using all of his senses to truly connect, not the way we are used to with the sometimes impersonal "How are you? I'm fine" type of exchange. Kyle is a delight and is as personable and outgoing as his mother, Veronica. They can't help but love loudly to all around!
So when I learned Kyle was opening his own coffee bar, I could not have been more excited! Kyle has always had jobs around Ascension, but this time he is a true entrepreneur. What he has taught me about connection and inclusion he will now be able to share with all who are blessed enough to interact with him over the purchase of a cup of coffee. What I know about Kyle is that he will be sharing more than a gourmet cup of coffee (which, by the way, is amazing); he will be teaching people the true joy of connection and acceptance. This type of communication goes further than mere words can say; it's a heart connection, which is what Kyle McGee is all about. I wished we all had the ability to light up like he does. Maybe we do; we just need to lean in and learn from Kyle. He has much more to share than just his tasty java!
By the way, Kyle's incredulous grin has been integrated into the Kyle's Cool Beans logo. Every time I see it, I can't help but feel the warmth of his presence.
Kudos to you, Kyle; you are doing amazing things!
Kristie Guthrie, Berkley Enterprises
I love to stand around and watch as he directs his power chair towards his friends with his own way of speaking, waving, and reaching out to connect with them...using all of his senses to truly connect, not the way we are used to with the sometimes impersonal "How are you? I'm fine" type of exchange. Kyle is a delight and is as personable and outgoing as his mother, Veronica. They can't help but love loudly to all around!
So when I learned Kyle was opening his own coffee bar, I could not have been more excited! Kyle has always had jobs around Ascension, but this time he is a true entrepreneur. What he has taught me about connection and inclusion he will now be able to share with all who are blessed enough to interact with him over the purchase of a cup of coffee. What I know about Kyle is that he will be sharing more than a gourmet cup of coffee (which, by the way, is amazing); he will be teaching people the true joy of connection and acceptance. This type of communication goes further than mere words can say; it's a heart connection, which is what Kyle McGee is all about. I wished we all had the ability to light up like he does. Maybe we do; we just need to lean in and learn from Kyle. He has much more to share than just his tasty java!
By the way, Kyle's incredulous grin has been integrated into the Kyle's Cool Beans logo. Every time I see it, I can't help but feel the warmth of his presence.
Kudos to you, Kyle; you are doing amazing things!
Kristie Guthrie, Berkley Enterprises