And the results are in...

So the final results have slowly (very very slowly) trickled in and we have the final amount of funds raised by our championed (first annual???) Mustaches for Hope Fundraising event. Are you all ready for this???
Cue the drum roll...

$2063.00!!!

Not bad for a bunch of first-time mustache growers, huh?

Thank you so much to all of you who have supported this event and to those of you who donated your money, trash-talking, snickering, upper lips and top-drawer insults. The incredible students of Hope Special Education Center will surely benefit from your generosity. The Fine Arts program at Hope will be able to continue to strive to create a top-notch curriculum while providing amazing opportunities for our students to grow in the Arts while exploring their own form of creativity and self-expression. 

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you.

Well done Growers!

P.S.  We're currently taking suggestions for possible future fundraisers since some of us would rather not have to grow another mustache. Ever.  Some of the ideas already thrown out there include Neck-Beards for Hope, Unibrows for Hope and Pinky Nails for Hope.  Keep the ideas coming!

The Home Stretch...

(...Cue the Chariots of Fire theme song...)

So this is it. The final week of growing and the final week of fundraising. In 48 hours many of us will be clean shaven and well on our way to cultivating our usual looks and comfortable faces back as they should be. But as we wind down there is one lingering question; one thought that would be so easily overlooked as we step out of the shower on Saturday morning and reach for our shaving cream and razor: What now?

As I see it there are three viable options:
1. Put that razor down and let it ride. Enjoy it!

2. Save it. Find a way to remember the good times!

3. Change your name, change your face and change your identity. "What mustache? Get outta here, that wasn't me. Seriously!"

If you have another suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

Oh no...

I just realized something sort of unsettling...

Livin' on a Prayer...

Woah, we're half way there... (c'mon, if you didn't get th Bon Jovi reference then shame on you.). So it's officially the half-way point of this little fundraiser. Hope all is going well and your little pet caterpillars on your upper lips aren't drawing too much attention (yeah, right). For your enjoyment, here are some more current photos of our brave little participants... Enjoy!

Great job Growers!
Keep collecting those donations. They're all due on the 18th.
We even have a tiny fan club of honorary growers... and their 'staches are much cooler than mine!

Ping Pong, Rally On...

So as I mentioned in a previous post, a ping pong tournament was organized to benefit my Mustaches for Hope fundraising efforts. Well, it was last weekend and it was outstanding. We had 11 teans playing for some pretty incredible top prizes (including an autographed headshot of Rob Reiner?). Here are a few photos from the event...

Even the balls had little mustaches!

Everybody was excited, the games were competitive and in the end there could only be one winning team. That honor went to our very own Mustaches for Hope participant and Master of the Table Tennis: Matt Huisman!

Way to go Matt!

Pledges...

Not those kind of pledges. Donations, sponsors, money...how are we doing? I don't want to know exactly how much you've all collected or even been promised, I just want to remind you that these mustaches shouldn't come cheap. Get out there and ask your friends and family to dig a bit deeper in their pockets for the good of our school. Don't sell your 'stache-growing skills short fellas. There is a lot of sweet stubble floating around. It's only a third of the way into our six week timeline so settle in brothers and prepare for the wild hairs that start to curl into the side of your mouth, that one super thick hair that just won't lie flat like all the others around it and the inevitable blond (bald) spot. It happens to all of us. So if you have any tips, tricks or theories to grow something solid please feel free to leave a comment.

But seriously, get out there and raise some cash. I'm fortunate enough to have some pretty amazing friends who have decided to support my 'stache be organizing a ping pong tournament this weekend. The $10 team entry fee will go directly to my fundraising efforts and I believe that we have about a dozen teams signed up. With prizes for the top three teams as well as snacks and plenty of drinks, what could be more fun on a Saturday? I just wish that I could play like these guys...

Well, anyway...it should be a lot of fun. Let me know how you're doing with your fundraising and if you have any helpful tips for those that may need it.
Happy Growing!

And they're off...

I guess It isn't really the time to say that we're in the thick of it since it's only been 3 days since Clean Shaven Day, but the stubble is beginning to rear it's ugly head. Last Friday all participants had to shave it all off (if they had anything to shave that is) to start this fundraising event on level terms. Most of us took care of this on or own time, but one in particular decided that a mid-day shave-off was warranted. Our beloved (and sometimes feared) A.P.E. teacher, Ken chose to take his long standing goatee down to nil during his "non-duty" lunch. Thanks for the afternoon shock!

I was fortunate enough to have received a donation from my lovely wife to go to the barber shop and get a man style straight razor shave. What an experience that one was. The place was cool (Syndicate on Broadway in Long Beach) and the price was fair (only 20 bucks plus tip), however it did take a bit longer than I had planned.  All the guys working the place were friendly enough for guys who have tattoos on their faces. Really...very nice guys...with tattoos on their faces...every single one of 'em. The shave itself was smooth and left my face red, bare and frightening cold as I left the shop into the evening beach breeze.

Yes, that is a motorcycle hanging on the back wall.

Yikes. Make sure there are plenty of band aids on hand. 

So once that was over and done with it was time to head over to The Thirsty Isle for our first Friday Night 'Stache Party. Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with this place,  The Thirsty Isle is in every sense of the term a "dive". Touch as little as possible, don't make much eye contact and save your trips to the bathroom until you get home. We had a decent turn out and had a lot of fun. A few drinks, some good laughs and a few games of chicken (for penalties). To allow our participants to save face, the 'stache-master won't divulge too much information about who had to complete which penalties but I'm sure if you ask around you'll find out the details.

As of now we have 20 participants signed up. Not all have had their first photos taken, but for the time being check out the beauty marks, butt-chins and tan lines on those of us who have. Enjoy...