Las Vegas, Nevada – Despite continuing reports about the failing economy, future professionals from Paul Mitchell The School Las Vegas and the nationwide Paul Mitchell beauty school network spent the months of February through April raising over $1.2 million in their annual charity "FUNraising" campaign. Now in its seventh year, the annual campaign surpassed all previous records and brought the combined total to more than $4.4 million.
??
For those who wonder why a group of students would be so passionate about raising money for charity, the answer lies in the organization's unique culture, whose stated mission is to create "Happy, successful future professionals."
??
"Giving back is a cornerstone of our philosophy," says school Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh. "Of course we teach the skills needed for a successful career, but we also teach the skills needed for a successful life, and those include being nice and giving back."
??
Rather than seeking huge corporate donations, future professionals raised most of the money through grassroots events like cut-a-thons, hair shows, car washes, bake sales, and "Casual for a Cause" days, with donations averaging $5 to $10. The funds will be distributed to the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Children's Miracle Network, Food 4 Africa, and the schools' own nonprofit organization, the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation.
??
Claybaugh announced the results at a gala dinner at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, California, on April 25, 2010. The event was hosted by Claybaugh and representatives from the sponsored charities, including radio and TV personality Leeza Gibbons, entertainer Donny Osmond, Paul Mitchell CEO and Cofounder John Paul DeJoria, and Paul Mitchell Co-owner and salon owner Angus Mitchell.
??
A packed audience cheered as the top ten FUNraising schools were announced. For the second year in a row, Paul Mitchell The School – Salt Lake City took top honors, raising $73,104. The top 10 individual FUNraisers were also recognized at the dinner, along with winners of the schools' recent "Why It's Cool to Be a Paul Mitchell Future Professional / Work at a Paul Mitchell School" YouTube video contest.
??
As a special surprise, Donny Osmond brought his band and sang several songs for the crowd. "When Winn Claybaugh contacted Marie and me with an offer to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network, we were surprised, to say the least," Donny said. "I was blown away when Winn told me that, due to all your hard work and the success of this year's FUNraising campaign, the check to Children's Miracle Network is not for $100,000 as originally promised, but for $200,000! Talk about over delivering, something I have come to expect from the Paul Mitchell family. You guys are amazing!"
No comments:
Post a Comment