Bald
is Beautiful!
Teens Make a Difference for Kids with Cancer
Ten
high school students, young men and women, recently shaved
their heads to empathize with and raise money for kids with
cancer. With advanced publicity, these students raised over
$5,000.00 for the Sunshine Kids Foundation on Friday, March
9, at Changes Salon in Summit.
The
fundraising event was organized by Sara Pilling and Rachel
Thompson, childhood friends that were inspired by a friend,
Dianne Sample.
Dianne came to the event
from her new home in Colorado. She said, “I am impressed
with the courage it took for these two, beautiful young women,
Rachel and Sara, shaving their heads to raise money for the
Sunshine Kids. It was one thing to shave my head, and be bald,
when I was in my 50's, I did not have to worry about peer pressure,
or public reaction. These two wonderfully brave teenagers,
showed more daring at a much more vulnerable age. Their unwavering
commitment is inspiring!"
Changes
Salon was filled to the brim with about 100 people…participants,
contributors and supporters of the soon to be bald teenagers.
The atmosphere was festive and crackling with anticipation.
The boys began with hair of all lengths from close cropped
to shoulder length. They emerged with just stubble left on
their bald scalps and faces. The girls each started with at
least shoulder length hair and emerged with the same clean
shaven head as the boys.
The event began with four brave teenage volunteers, three
girls and a boy ready to become bald for the cause.
Six more were
inspired while at the salon to show their support as well.
As each person stood with a bald head, the crowd burst into
applause and dozens of cameras flashed to capture the moment.
Bald is truly beautiful! Each of the teenagers looked fabulous
with no hair. They left the salon feeling good about what they
had done and how they looked.
In addition to the organizers Sara Pilling and Rachel Thompson,
the following brave, now bald, students participated in the
event:
| Juan
Castro, Madison High |
Edward
Espinoza, Summit High |
| Monica
Flanagan, Summit High |
Grady
Hogan, Summit High |
| Gary
Kaufman, Summit High |
Alex
Luccaci, Summit High |
| Hector
Martinez, Madison High |
Alejandra
Rodriguez, Summit High |
Bernadette
Plump, owner of Changes Salon at 10 Kent Place Boulevard
in Summit, agreed to shave their heads with the help
of stylist Debbie Kountorius at no charge for the cause. At
the conclusion of the fundraiser, Bernadette offered to shape
the teenager’s hair, once it starts growing in, for the
first two times at no charge.
The Summit office of Prudential New Jersey Properties supported
the organizers by sending out fundraising letters and collecting
contributions. Donators that gave more than $100.00 were guaranteed
a chance to help shave the heads of the organizers. In addition,
Prudential offered moral support for the participants during
the event.
It’s not too late to support the cause. If you should
feel so inspired to send a contribution, please send your check
payable to “Sunshine Kids Foundation”, to:
Prudential New Jersey Properties
C/O Marianne Corrado
428 Springfield Avenue
Summit, NJ 07901
For
information about The Sunshine Kids Foundation, click on
http://www.sunshinekids.org/.
They describe themselves as “a
non-profit organization dedicated to children with cancer.
Established in 1982, we are committed to providing positive
group activities and emotional support for young cancer patients.
The Sunshine Kids provides a variety of programs and events,
free of charge, for kids who are receiving cancer treatments
in hospitals across North America.”
