Why One Company Goes Bald for Kids with Cancer
By: Gordon Logan, CEO of Sport Clips Haircuts
Often when business leaders think about getting involved with charitable organizations, the first thought is “we can raise some money and write a check.” And while financial support is a big part of philanthropic work, there is so much more to it than simply writing a check.
At Sport Clips, we are true believers in giving back; what’s even more important for an organization is to establish the desire to give back as part of the business culture. Our Sport Clips Haircuts with Heart mission is to give back to the communities where we live and work. It’s more than just a haircut, it’s an expectation that starts with our Leadership Team and our support center and is executed so well by our Team Members in our stores around the country. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a big part of our Haircuts with Heart mission, and one that our team members find extremely rewarding to them personally.
When we were approached in 2015 to review St. Baldrick’s outstanding contributions to childhood cancer research and to consider signing on as a national partner, it was simple decision — of course we would! As the only hair care concept active in all fifty states, we are already established in communities across the country, and shaving heads is something we’re obviously capable of executing! Many of our franchised locations were already participating in St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events around the country, and were eager to up our involvement to become a national sponsor. Most importantly, this is an opportunity for us to join the fight against childhood cancer and connect with our local communities.
Want to rock the bald? Learn more about St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events >
In January 2016, Sport Clips joined St. Baldrick’s as their first national partner, and in April of that year, we kicked things off with a record-breaking shave event at the Sport Clips National Huddle in San Antonio, Texas. More than 130 volunteers went bald that day, myself included, along with our company president and our VP of operations (my son)! We were thrilled to raise more than $110,000 for St. Baldrick’s as a result of that one event. Since then, Sport Clips has contributed $900,000 through both company donations and local shave fundraisers, not to mention the hundreds of events we have supported through sending team members to shave the heads of volunteers. It’s the local events that have the most impact on our team members because that is where they get to meet the incredible honored children who are battling cancer, the amazing families who are with those children every step of the way, and the selfless group of volunteers who “go bald” for the cause.
Read more about their record-breaking shave in San Antonio >
Establishing philanthropy as part of a business culture is powerful. By living our Value of “doing the right thing,” community involvement and the feeling of being part of something truly worthwhile can help to attract and retain the high quality team members we need to deliver on our brand promise. It can be the reason a potential client chooses one business over another. People want to do business with businesses that do good.
While all of those “collateral benefits” are important to any business, the most important thing to remember is that by participating in St. Baldrick’s events, you are helping to positively impact the lives of thousands of children and their families in the most meaningful way possible. Giving the gift of hope and life to those who are affected by childhood cancer is reward enough.
Children like Derryk, who helped shaved my head at our National Huddle in 2016. Children like Scott in North Carolina, who visited one of our stores to talk about how excited he was to get a back-to-school haircut after his hair finally grew back after treatment. Children like Karah who, along with her family, attended a NASCAR race in California with us as a celebration of her remission. These children, and thousands more like them, are the reasons Sport Clips is a proud national partner of St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Join Sports Clips in giving the gift of hope to kids with cancer.
Get involved today.
