District 64’s Lincoln Middle School Sets March 14 for St. Baldrick’s Fund-Raiser; On Track to Surpass Its Own “Top 10” Nationally Ranked 2011 Event

The 20 expected volunteer barbers and stylists will be in overdrive on Thursday afternoon, March 14 when almost 200 students and teachers at Park Ridge-Niles School District 64’s Lincoln Middle School will have their heads shaved as part of a St. Baldrick’s Foundation fund-raiser in support of pediatric cancer research.

With pledges of more than $45,000 already in hand a week in advance and more streaming in daily, Lincoln hopes to surpass its 2011 record of $57,509.56, which ranked in the “top 10” school events nationwide that year for St. Baldrick’s.

In addition to gathering sponsors for the shavees, students have been raising money through selling T-shirts and items they made.  A variety of other activities and publicity at school has helped to boost awareness and engage in friendly competition among the three grades (6-8) at the 720-student middle school. 

Enthusiasm at the school is very high for this community service activity, which highlights District 64’s civil behavior goals in action, according to teachers Kara Dabe, Jim Tebo and Christie Thielen, who are leading the organizing group.  Students have especially connected to the stories of classmates and other children facing cancer battles, and to relatives, friends or neighbors they know in the community whose lives have been touched by this illness.

Come March 14, the school gym will be transformed into a giant barbershop for the pep rally-style afternoon event, with music from Lincoln’s Jazz Band and live video on an oversize screen.  To the thunderous applause of their classmates and staff members, every “shavee” will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and share their reasons for why they decided to take the challenge before stepping up to the row of chairs and barbers waiting with their clippers. 

As is typical, most shavees are boys, although a dozen girls have opted to participate, too.  Eight girls also are getting shorter cuts and donating their hair to be used for wigs for children with cancer.  In addition, 10 teachers are shavees and the principal will join if a $50,000 fund-raising goal is met.  About 75 other student volunteers are helping prior to or at the event.  

Volunteer barbers and stylists – many returning from 2011 – already lined up include:  Floyds 99 Barbershop – Joann Bosnos, Christina Corrie, Amanda Kragel, Katie Muntwyler, Dawn Hill, Michelle Salimbene; Hair Cuttery – Antonia Nardulli, Brittany Christman, Allison Moreno; Denise Grandolfo (Master Cuts); Karen Rutili (Rutili); Margaret Graziano (Do or Dye); Kristi Muladore (Renessence Salon); Regina Porter (Ambra Salon and European Spa); Katherine Davidsen (Sport Clips); Kevin Frede (Classic Cuts, Park Ridge); Teresa Vos (Lamaris Salon and Day Spa); Tina Sclafani (Magnificent Brides); and Joanne Geers.