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By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Dozens of volunteers shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick’s Head Shaving event took place on March 11 outside of the Austintown O’Donold’s Irish Pub and Grille.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a nationwide volunteer-powered charity that is committed to funding the research of childhood cancer. The head-shaving event began as a challenge between businessmen and has grown from one event in 2000 to currently more than 1,200 events. The events take place in pubs, restaurants, schools, churches and several other places.
Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has donated more then $200 million to support research making the foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.
This is the sixth year that the St. Baldrick’s event has taken place. This year there were 32 people registered to shave their heads and there are around 20-30 people who walk-in the day of. There are people from the five-county area.
“We have a great community following. We’re building an event that people look forward to and all that does is help raise money,” said Eric Broz, volunteer event coordinator.
Broz runs Drink Up Youngstown and used his connections and social media marketing skills to help get the word out about the event. St. Baldrick’s Foundation is set up to be social media marketing with Facebook and Twitter integration.
There were more than 60 baskets donated for the basket raffle, paintings being sold by Ron Moore, Jr. and many other items being sold to help raise money.
Sports Clips Haircuts is a national sponsor of St. Baldrick’s, but this is the first year the Sports Clips in Poland has participated in the Austintown event. The Poland location has been raising money at their store to donate to St. Baldrick’s prior to coming to the event. The stylists volunteered to come in and shave the heads of the guests who came in.
“It’s a very emotional experience. It’s amazing to see people raising so much money to help kids,” said Stephanie Thomas, assistant manager of Sports Clips in Poland.
The event is an all volunteer event. People from all around the area volunteer their time to help raise money for the foundation.
“I love this charity and I love this event,” said Broz.
Aside from the head-shaving event, there was a 5k and live entertainment for the guests to participate in and enjoy.
Last year St. Baldrick’s in Austintown raised more than $19,000 and this year Broz is looking to raise around $22,000.
For more information on the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, visit www.St.Baldricks.org.