The Aveda Global Team offers 600 Haircuts for the Homeless at Project Homeless Connect to help people feel better about themselves
On May 20 Aveda supported Project Homeless Connect’s efforts to end homelessness in the form of haircuts to over 600 Twin Cities homeless persons. Thanks to the generosity of more than 50 metro area stylists and barbers representing over 20 salons and barbershops, this was one day that made a difference in the lives of guests, who also received chair massages from 26 Aveda Institute massage students while waiting for their turn.
The Aveda team has been working with Project Homeless Connect, a local community services agency, since December 2010. Twice yearly the Minneapolis Convention Center becomes a service center for this disadvantaged group. As of today, the Aveda team has given more than 2600 hair cuts to the homeless through this program.
“I have volunteered at Project Homeless Connect for a few years now A gentleman whom I’d met at a previous event walked right up to me and said, ‘I told you that last haircut was going to get me a job, and it did,’” said Wendy Rose, Aveda Volunteer and Salon Development Partner for Aveda Services Midwest. “That is what brings me back year after year. This lovely man needed a great haircut and another chance, and he got both through Project Homeless Connect.”
“We are honored and humbled to be part of such an outstanding community event,” says Shelley Barnes, Event Volunteer Lead and Aveda Executive Director Business Education and Professional Development. “I am proud to work for a company that promotes volunteerism amongst employees in the way Aveda does.”
All these efforts to collaborate with Project Homeless Connect were also recognized by The Estée Lauder Companies, who honored the Aveda Global Education team with The Estée Lauder Companies Third Annual Leonard A. Lauder Volunteer of the Year Award. As a result, this worthy cause received a $2,500 donation from The Estée Lauder Companies.
