The Paul Mitchell Schools’ 9th annual FUNraising charity raised $2.5 million this year, bringing their nine-year total to more than $8.5 million. Each year, students and staff from the nationwide network’s 100 cosmetology schools spend three months fundraising for selected charities by raising $5–10 at a time with grassroots activities like cut-a-thons, hair shows and car washes.
The impressive total was revealed at the Paul Mitchell Schools’ 9th annual FUNraising Gala hosted by Paul Mitchell Schools Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh and singer/performer Marie Osmond, with Paul Mitchell Co-owners John Paul DeJoria and Angus Mitchell. A handful of other stars were on hand in support of the FUNRaising campaign.
‘Not one celebrity was paid to be here,” said Claybaugh, “including Natasha Bedingfield. The Grammy nominee performed at the Gala, courtesy of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “And, thanks to sponsors and ticket sales, the Gala itself was a FUNraiser, generating an additional $27,000 for the charities.”
An unexpected $18,000 donation from Supercuts added even more to the total. “They weren’t part of our campaign, but they wanted to support us,” Claybaugh said.