Dan VorioFor Alyssa Beauregard, Jennifer Napiorski and Kerri Hurley, the “Locks of Love” fundraiser is more than just donating hair-it’s about giving children hope.
These three Resident Assistants in Commons decided to take their service program to another level and hold the Locks of Love fundraiser. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss, such as alopecia areata and cancer.
With the help of students, and sponsored by The North Haven Academy Paul Mitchell, RHC, Residential Life, and the Office of Community Service, the program raised over $200 and had a total of 35 people donate hair.
The event had been planned since early October and consisted of constant e-mails and search for a sponsor.
“Paul Mitchell worked with us really well,” Napiorski said, “They were pretty excited about it from the start.”
Paul Mitchell, who not only donated their time and services, but prizes as well, helped the day be a success.
Students were not the only ones getting involved in the Locks of Love fundraiser, but local communities like Hamden, North Haven, New Haven, and Wallingford were getting involved as well.
Beauregard, who has participated in Locks of Love before, donated 11 inches of her hair, at Saturday’s event which was held in Alumni Hall.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” Beauregard said.
Nearly 80 percent of all donations come from children, making Locks of Love a children aiding children program.
This is the first year that Quinnipiac University has participated in the Locks of Love, however the young women are hopeful and wish to make it an annual activity.
“We’re hoping to make this an every year event,” said Hurley who also donated 11 inches of hair. By making it an annual event, they hope that more people will be aware of Locks of Love and grow their hair out to donate more.
According to the Locks of Love Web site, their mission statement is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children.
The hair must also meet the following criteria: be at least 10 inches, but preferably 12 inches, be bundled in a ponytail or braid, be free of hair damaged by chemical processing, and be clean, dry, and placed in a plastic bag before it is mailed to Locks of Love.
Donors will receive a thank-you card within 90 days from the date the hair is received as a special “receipt” and acknowledgement of the donation.
For more information about Locks of Love, visit www.locksoflove.org.
