‘No-shave’ month raises money for a good cause

By MAUREEN DAYE
Correspondent

 The participants who grew beards for a No-Shave November fundraiser at the Millstone Township Elementary School are, from left, third-grade teacher Jason Miller, music teacher Adam Gruber, Principal Stephen Wisniewski, physical education teacher Anthony LaBella and art teacher Daniel Locandro. More than $700 was raised for the American Cancer Society. The participants who grew beards for a No-Shave November fundraiser at the Millstone Township Elementary School are, from left, third-grade teacher Jason Miller, music teacher Adam Gruber, Principal Stephen Wisniewski, physical education teacher Anthony LaBella and art teacher Daniel Locandro. More than $700 was raised for the American Cancer Society. MILLSTONE — Things got pretty hairy at the Millstone Township Elementary School recently because it was No-Shave November and it spurred a silly sort of fundraiser for a serious cause — the American Cancer Society.

Principal Stephen Wisniewski grew a beard during the month and the students raised money by voting on 15 beard styles, one funnier than the next, Wisniewski said.

On Dec. 1, Wisniewski promised to have his beard shaved in the style that was selected by the majority of students.

The principal said even though many students warned him they would choose the funniest beard on the ballot, Wisniewski turned the other cheek and probably even chuckled.

His strategy was to heighten the excitement and raise as much attention and money for the cause as possible. In the end, the students raised $714 and Wisniewski was proud of their effort.

“We started this just to have some fun and raise awareness, with very little expectation for actually raising money,” the principal said. “It is wonderful to share this with the students and staff.”

Joining Wisniewski in growing a beard were staff members Anthony LaBella, a physical education teacher; Adam Gruber, a music teacher; Jason Miller, a third-grade teacher; and Daniel Locandro, an art teacher.

Locandro devised the plan to raise more money by allowing students to vote on how Wisniewski would have his beard shaved at the end of the month. Locandro developed a ballot for the students to complete if they donated to the cause.

“We used to do something like this when I was working at a camp, and I remember how much fun it brought the campers. I thought this would be an awesome opportunity to bring some fun to the school while bringing awareness to a special cause,” Locandro said.

School nurse Lori Blazier educated the staff by sending an email sharing information about No-Shave November.

“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free,” Wisniewski said. “The idea behind the event was to donate the money a person would usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.”

The fundraiser had an amazing impact on the students, according to the principal.

“I cannot believe how much excitement this has brought to the school community,” Wisniewski said. “Every day I talk to parents, teachers and students who tell me how excited they were to pick a style, and most of them laugh, saying they picked the funniest one.”

More important, Wisniewski said, was the fact that the fundraiser made the students feel good.

“Students are telling me they feel so connected to helping others, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday season,” he said. “Students are taking dollars from their own money to help support the cause. I heard about birthday money and tooth fairy money going to the cause.”

LaBella said he was “so proud to be part of a bigger cause to help raise awareness. In fact, outside of school I have been asked by people if I was supporting No-Shave November with my beard, and I was proud to tell them I was supporting cancer research.”

Miller said it was “certainly worth having to deal with the itch that comes with growing a new beard to help support a great cause.”

Gruber agreed that “this was such a great way to raise money for a worthy cause.”

Wisniewski said that at the end of the day it made him feel special that he was able to help by simply growing a beard and shaving it into a funny style.

“My grandmother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and it was important for me to do this to support this cause,” the principal said.