With the coming of winter traditional fundraising events tend to slow, with walk-a-thons and marathons being reserved for the warmer months. In addition to pulling thick coats and scarves out of storage, one group has a reaction to the cold that doubles as a winter fundraiser—growing mustaches with sponsorship. Mustaches for Kids PDX launches into the growing season Wednesday. Get in on the growing or sponsor your favorite (or least favorite) mustache to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon.
Mustaches for Kids is a national organization that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Make-A-Wish foundation, all through facial hair. This year marks the first Portland chapter Mustaches for Kids, beginning Wednesday November 14th. Growers will be working hard to achieve facial hair while gathering donations from sponsors. Mustaches for Kids PDX describes it as "kind of like getting pledges to run a marathon – without the exertion, cramping, or dehydration." The Wednesday event will be a meet and greet before participants go home and shave clean to ensure all growers begin at the same stage. In coming weeks 'staches and their support teams will meet at bar 'checkpoints' to celebrate their success, encourage donations, and photograph the results before gathering for the final ‘Stache Bash on December 19th at Holocene.
Portland chapter co-founder Chrissy Purcell has a family history of mustache champions, noting, "I was inspired by Seattle's chapter last year; my friend Jasmine spearheaded that effort and my brother ended up taking home the title of Seattle's Sweetest 'Stache '06. They had so much fun that they convinced me to bring it to Portland." She brought on her friend Sarah Compton, and together they prepared for the growing season.
When asked if she expects a particular style to be popular, she emphasizes the spirit of giving while also laying down the rules. "The growing effort, no matter how big or small, will have to abide by national M4K regulations--namely, start from a clean-shaven face, only grow from corner to corner (no goatees, etc.). So I feel like we'll really end up rallying for the men behind the 'staches. There's a lot of heart in this fundraising effort and I can't wait to see that channeled through each 'stache…"
When asked about how other women can be involved, Chrissy says "I definitely get the fact that it's confusing that two ladies are organizing this whole thing…but I think it's a somewhat irrelevant concern considering that the bottom line is raising money for kids in need. In that vein, the project won't get off the ground unless people know about it! So even if women can't grow proper mustaches, they can help spread the word, help convince guys they know to participate, convince people to sponsor, etc. We need people to get psyched about the Growing Season, no matter how they can get involved – even if it just means coming to the 'Stache Bash on December 19!"
Whether you choose to grow or support a grower, all proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon, a group Chrissy chose as "a way for us to keep it local to Oregon, but also maintain a sense of cohesion with other M4K chapters. Plus, Make-A-Wish does really incredible, really necessary work and we're honored to have the opportunity to contribute!"
Wednesday, November 14 at 7:00pm at the B-Side Tavern (632 E Burnside). See Mustaches for Kids PDX for more including local inspirational 'staches including the Tom Potter Mayoral Stache, the Greg Oden Trail Blazing Stache, and the Stumptown Coffee Stache. Read our interview with the organizer or Mustaches for Kids SF on our East Bay ecometro site.