Salon raises funds
for City of Hope
BY SUE M. MORGAN
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Daniela Lecorchick, a stylist at The Art of Hair Salon in Old Bridge, cuts the hair of township resident Edith Williams during the Hope Cuts Haircut-A-Thon Sunday. The event raised funds for City of Hope, a Los Angeles-based charity. OLD BRIDGE — Instead of polishing off the last of the turkey at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, seven hairstylists at a local salon cut locks for a worthy cause.
The stylists, all employees at The Art of Hair Salon on Route 516, donated six hours of their time on Sunday when the shop participated in the Hope Cuts Haircut-A-Thon. Similar events were staged simultaneously in hundreds of hair salons across the country to benefit City of Hope, a Los Angeles-based charity.
As an umbrella organization, City of Hope distributes funds to scientific institutions that research cures for pediatric AIDS, juvenile diabetes and breast cancer.
The money raised at Art of Hair will be sent to The Beckman Research Institute, an affiliate of the City of Hope with offices in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, according to Peter Beckett, co-owner of the local salon with his wife, Grace.
Sunday’s event marked the first time that the Becketts participated in the annual City of Hope benefit.
The 13-month-old salon, located in the Village at Town Center, raised more than $400 in its maiden effort, Beckett confirmed.
"It went well," Peter Beckett said, adding that representatives from the City of Hope praised the salon’s work and welcomed their participation in the future.
"They expressed their gratitude to us for doing it this year," he said. "Next year I hope we raise more."
A stylist measures hair to be cut.
Small pink teddy bears wearing a winter cap and a pink ribbon can still be purchased at the salon with proceeds going to breast cancer research, Beckett noted.
In addition, gift baskets of hair-care products provided by Goldwell, a nationwide supplier to beauty salons, are also available for sale at the salon, he said.
A gift basket valued at $45 is available for a $25 donation, and baskets filled with $75 worth of products can be purchased with a $50 donation.
A number of Beckett’s regular customers turned out to donate $25 apiece to have their hair washed, cut and styled by Beckett’s staff during Sunday’s event.
"A few people gave more [than $25]," Beckett said.
"The customers were very happy with the wonderful service they received as well as the fact that the money all went to a wonderful charity," he added.
The stylists all donated their time and one, Daniela Lecorchick, drove an hour from home to do her part, Beckett pointed out.
"The salon owners send their heartfelt gratitude to all of the employees who were here," he said.
The Village at Town Center shops are located at Route 516 eastbound and Cottrell Road.