Four weeks of mustache-growing raises $90,000 for kids’ charities in Richmond
Mustaches for Kids is an annual mustache-growing fundraiser held in cities throughout the United States and Canada. The Richmond chapter of Mustaches for Kids (M4K Richmond) was founded in 2003 after local philanthropists David Hogan and Aaron Breed participated in their first “Growing Season.” What began as a somewhat bizarre and humorous fundraising concept has grown into an active nonprofit with over 120 annual growers raising $90,000 last year alone. All tallied, the group has raised more than $200,000 since 2003.
All proceeds from the fundraisers benefit local Richmond charities including ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, The Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Greater Richmond SCAN.
During the four-week Growing Season each fall M4K growers sprout sweet mustaches. Per the bylaws, they shave their faces except for the mustache a minimum of one time per week and solicit donations from friends, family, co-workers, and people in the community. “Kind of like getting pledges to run a marathon –without the exertion, cramping, or dehydration of physical exercise,” says co-founder Hogan.
Checkpoint meetings are held weekly at local watering holes in an effort to ensure compliance with the growing standards and to give Growers an opportunity to evaluate and ridicule each other.
At the end of the Growing Season M4K Richmond hosts a final gala, “The Stache Bash,” that is a cross between a beauty pageant, dog show, and police lineup. During the gathering, growers donning mustache-enhancing costumes are put through tests of mind, body, and stache where only one is declared to be the “Sweetest.” This year’s sweetest stache honoree Michael Keogh was also a top fund-raiser.
The 2014 Growing Season kicks off November 1 and extends through December 5. Each participant receives a t-shirt and a pint glass with the M4K Richmond logo. Proceeds from this year’s M4K Growing Season once again benefit local charities.
