Welcome all y’all veterans and noobs.
We are happy to announce the FOURTH ANNUAL MUSTACHES FOR KIDS MUSTACHE GROWING CONTEST AND FUNDRAISER. This letter is your official call-to-’stache, a rallying cry for those dormant whiskers and that sense of charity and righteousness within us all.
Last year we raised $15,000 for Make-a-Wish Foundation putting our all time total up to $30,000. This year let’s come together and show this city the real meaning of growing a mustache.
If you’re on our mailing list you probably know by now that Mustaches for Kids is a volunteer-run organization started in Los Angeles in 1999 to do good and have fun by growing Mustaches for children’s charities. Collectively, our chapters across the US and Canada have raised hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars for the kids.
This year we are asking Growers to step up to the ‘Stache and help the Ottawa chapter of M4K raise money for the MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION of EASTERN ONTARIO. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.
The proceeds from our 2007 fundraising efforts went towards granting wishes to Victoria, Jakob and Michael.
That warm fuzzy feeling that extends from your gut to a tingle in the upper lip is telling you something: you want to help us. The least you can do is grow a Mustache, right? That’s what we thought.
So you’re curious, you’re interested, you’re psyched, you’re wondering how you’re going to explain this to your boss/family/significant other. Let’s start slow:
The first thing to do is get a marker, open your calendar, turn to FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, and write ‘M4K CLEAN SHAVEN DAY’. We’ll be gathering at the Clocktower Brew Pub on Bank Street around 8pm to kick off the 2008 Mustache Growing Season and to distribute Mustache growing and fundraising materials. If you’re on Facebook, check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=34126296497 (or search for m4k and look for the red poster). Feel free to share the event with anyone you might think would be interested.
To officially check in REGISTER.
The next thing you do is send an email to anyone you know who 1) might want to grow a Mustache or 2) might know someone who might want to grow a Mustache. So that’s pretty much everyone. M4K depends on word-of-stache enthusiasm and you wouldn’t want to be the person who ruins the vibe, now would you?
Please let us know if you’d like to be removed from this mailing list. More importantly, feel free to send along our web address to friends who might want to be kept up to date about our efforts and activities.
The follicles are tingling in anticipation.
Posted by Brett Tackaberry
October 8th, 2008 by Brett Tackaberry
As we get ready for the 2008 campaign, its important to remember why we do this. Let me try to put it in perspective – you grow a mustache for 5 weeks, and in turn, through Make-a-Wish, wishes are granted and the memories last a life time.
Our efforts last year went towards helping grant 3 wishes.
Victoria
Victoria is an adorable three-year-old girl from Ennismore, Ontario who lives with Bilateral Nephroblastomatosis, a disease which severely affects the function of her kidneys. Her wish was to travel Disney World to meet Cinderella. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario, her wish came true in April. Victoria’s favourite part was meeting Cinderella & Dora the Explorer. Her family had tons of fun: “The people at Give Kids the World were amazing and very friendly, we loved it there! Thank you to everyone that made this possible. We will never forget how much fun we had! ”
This was a full wish which means your efforts paid for the whole thing, beginning to end.
Jakob
Jakob is a bright 7 year old boy from Orleans. Last year he was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare disease in which cancer cells are found in the bone or in soft tissue. Jakob’s wish was to go on a Disney Cruise with his parents, brother and grandmother. He had never been on a large ship. The Make-A-Wish Foundation was happy to grant Jakob’s wish. He sailed on a 7 nights West Coast Cruise from May 25th to June 1st.
For this wish we were a partial partner. We provided the gifts, initial visit, limo and spending money on the cruise.
Michael
In May, Michael, a 10 year-old boy from Ottawa, received a birthday wish from Make-A-Wish ® Eastern Ontario. Michael’s social worker and school principal wrote to Make-A-Wish explaining that this little boy suffered from Synovial Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer which usually occurs near to the joints of the arms or legs. Although Michael was at school for a brief period, his condition worsened quickly, increasing the gravity of his prognosis. At this difficult time, Michael wished for a computer to help brighten his spirits. The generous employees at Sony help grant Michael’s wish, providing him with a brand new computer. In addition, Make-A-Wish ® Eastern Ontario organized a birthday party at the Children Hospital of Eastern Ontario for Michael and his friends from school. It was a magical day to celebration of this young boy’s amazing courage. Second is Michael.
We partnered with Sony to grant Michael’s wish.
Posted by Brett Tackaberry
October 6th, 2008 by Brett Tackaberry
It’s summertime so that means two things: baseball and mustaches. Combining the two is only natural.
Gibson, Morris, Eckersley, Boggs and Hernandez… all the greats are here in this gallery of fantastic staches in baseball.
And if the lip rugs move you, get behind the mustache institute as they get behind Jason Giambi for the final spot on the American League’s All-Star team.
Thanks for the tip JJ!
July 9th, 2008 by Steve Palmer
This year we raised $15,000 for Make-a-Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario.
A big thanks goes out to all participants and supporters of M4K. Special thanks to Brett, Bill and the guys at the Clocktower Brew Pub, Jose Bray at Joe Mamma, Operativ, Thornley Fallis and 76design. Thank you and much respect to Sylvie Hill for hosting the best Stache Bash Ottawa has ever seen.
I know I speak for all growers when I say we can’t wait till next year.
Yours truly,
Brett Tackaberry
Some photos courtesy of Dan Brien from Stache Bash 2007:
February 4th, 2008 by Brett Tackaberry
THE 2007 SWEETEST ‘STACHE COMPETITION
Friday, December 14th, 2007 @ 8pm
Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York Street
Cover: $5
Double Pumpers go on at 10pm.
Events on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15037470396
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9237010618
December 14th, 2007 by Brett Tackaberry
Let’s all give a big mustache thank you to Operativ Visual Communications for their generous donation of $500.
December 6th, 2007 by Steve Palmer
Fellow grower and friend of Mustaches for Kids Jose Bray of Joe Mamma Bike and Board Co. has issued a challenge to the 2007 crop of growers:
Anyone that raises $700 gets a 20% discount on all ‘07 boards and gear!
Jose has also offered to provide some prizes for the finale bash on December 14th. A collective ’stache thanks goes out to Jose for this generous offer. Are any growers up to the challenge?
Joe Mamma is conveniently located right next to the ClockTower just on the other side of Pretoria. Even if you’re not able to raise $700 try stop by the shop and give Jose some M4K love.
November 30th, 2007 by Steve Palmer
In June 2007, through M4K Ottawa’s contribution to Make a Wish, Selena was granted a wish. Selena’s mother Claudia and her family sent us the following note and pictures :
No words can describe what you and your group of friends have done for our daughter Selena. I can surely say that Selena’s wish was truly granted by wish angels like yourselves and the make-a-wish foundation. Selena had a up close and personal experience with Sea World biggest star SHAMU real name Tuliqum. The smile on her face is one that we haven’t seen for quite a while. It’s amazing how the magic of a child’s wish could make all those long days and evenings at the hospital and with doctors just vanish away. She was able to meet all the princesses at Disney World. I truly believe that no words can describe the magic that you all put in Selena’s heart that she’ll will cherish forever. There are not enough words to describe the gratitude for the magical week that your group has given to our daughter we will forever be grateful.
We are all hoping our contribution this year will have as much as an impact as we did with our contribution from 2006.
November 29th, 2007 by Brett Tackaberry
Fellow Growers,
So far things have been going great. Our turnout has been amazing. We even ended up having to modify the website to accommodate all the growers. I’m not sure about you but I have been overhearing some great comments from people about my mustache. Things like “wow”, “what the”, and my favourite: “honey, don’t take candy from that man”.
We’ve been receiving a few online donations through PayPal but this week at the meeting I’d like to take an “unofficial” tally of your fundraising. Something to put up on the site to keep us motivated. Something to show our progress.
And just a reminder that all remaining check-ins will be at the ClockTower. We’ve got the basement booked for the next two weeks, but just in case you don’t see us there check upstairs as well.
November 19th, 2007 by Steve Palmer
From the sounds of it, last Friday’s Clean Shave Day check-in was a smashing success. One seasoned grower described it like this:
“We filled the basement portion of the Clock Tower with growers and sig. others. Lots of new faces this year. I met several rookie growers who were there on the recommendations for previous growers, some word-of-mouth newbies, and even some walk-ins as a result of posters around Ottawa….incredible.”
Brings a tear to my eye… that runs down the space between my cheek and nose into a very young mustache.
To all new growers: welcome aboard! To help you get started here’s some important information you should know:
- First thing, grab the 2007 growers kit (PDF). It’s got all the info you’ll need to grow a ’stache and help raise pledges for M4K. A great bathroom read or take it on your daily commute.
- Secondly, keep an eye on the photo gallery. For two reasons: it’s a hilarious documentation of a group of grown men growing mustaches from scratch and because we have a lot of photos of new growers who we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet… or at least knowing your names. We’ll be posting Friday’s photos over the next couple of days. If you click on your photo and we’ve got you down as “unidentified” please take a second to email info AT m4kottawa.org to let us know who you are. Attaching your photo would help.
Any and all questions, queries, comments or cookie recipes can be sent to info AT m4kottawa.org. We want you to grow with us!
November 12th, 2007 by Steve Palmer
