Annual FUNraising Campaign

"Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth."
— Shirley Chisholm

Each year, thousands of Future Professionals and staff members from Paul Mitchell Schools donate their time, talent, and energy to support a variety of charitable causes. In the past seven years, our annual "FUNraising" campaign has raised over $4.6 million!

In conjunction with our own nonprofit organization, the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, we’ve built two homes through Habitat for Humanity; fed thousands of African orphans; provided resources for caregivers through the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation; provided hair care services for the poor and homeless; helped beauty industry professionals in the wake of natural disasters; and supported the victims of AIDS, breast cancer, homelessness, domestic abuse, and hundreds of other causes, to name just a few.

"People in need are not just those who line up at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. At Paul Mitchell Schools, giving back is an ongoing attitude about how we do business."
- Winn Claybaugh
Dean and Cofounder of Paul Mitchell Schools

"It’s about each of us paying more than our share of rent on this planet in order to help many people have much better lives or even have the chance to live one. What a great culture that is!"
- John Paul DeJoria
Chairman and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems

 Click the tabs on this page and visit our Magic of Memories Special Edition Newsletter to learn more about this year's campaign.

2010 Campaign Results

Future Professionals from Paul Mitchell Schools spent the months of February through April raising money for their annual charity “FUNraising” campaign. This year’s efforts raised a record-breaking $1.2 million, bringing the seven-year total to more than $4.6 million.

The results were announced at a gala celebration hosted by TV and radio personality Leeza Gibbons and Paul Mitchell Schools Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh, with special guests Donny Osmond, Larry King, John Paul DeJoria, and Angus Mitchell. 

Why are Paul Mitchell Future Professionals so passionate about raising money for charity? “Giving back is a cornerstone of our philosophy,” Winn Claybaugh says. “Of course we teach the skills needed for a successful career, but we also teach the skills needed for a successful life, and those include being nice and giving back.”

Most of the money comes from grassroots events like cut-a-thons, hair shows, car washes, bake sales, and casual days, with average donations of $5 to $10. The 2010 funds were distributed to five selected organizations: 

• Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation
• Larry King Cardiac Foundation
• Children’s Miracle Network
• Food 4 Africa
• Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation

9/11 Tributes: 2009

Every year since the 9/11 tragedy, Paul Mitchell Schools have held special events in remembrance of the lives lost that day. “The lesson we learned from 9/11 was unity,” said Paul Mitchell Schools Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh. “Each year, we unite in showing our appreciation, patriotism, and gratitude by planning something special in every school.”

Following are just a few examples of this year’s September 11 tributes:

• In California, Paul Mitchell The School – Costa Mesa established a widows and orphans foundation for local firefighters and has raised money for that organization every year.

• Paul Mitchell The School – Sherman Oaks dressed in red, white, and blue and decked out their meeting room with matching balloons and streamers. They presented songs, poems, and 9/11 reflections, followed by a continental breakfast.

• In Illinois, Trend Setters College of Cosmetology – A Paul Mitchell Partner School delivered baked goods and thank-you cards to their local fire and police departments.

• In Maryland, The Temple – A Paul Mitchell Partner School started the day with Maya Angelou’s poem about September 11, followed by a “Where were you that day?” activity. They ended their day by taking goody bags full of Tea Tree products to their local firehouses.

• In Connecticut, North Haven Academy – A Paul Mitchell Partner School had a visit from their fire chief, who talked about what it was like that day. Future Professionals and staff paid $2 to wear red, white, and blue shirts and donated the money to the fire department.

• In Michigan, Paul Mitchell The School – Sterling Heights offered free haircuts and styles to all servicemen and women on 9/11, including a group of local firefighters who came to the school in their fire truck.

• In New Hampshire, Michael’s School of Hair Design and Aesthetics – A Paul Mitchell Partner School donated $400 to New England K-9 Search and Rescue League. Nancy Lyon, chairperson and organizer of the group, came to the school to do a presentation and live demonstration with her rescue dog, Haven.

In memory of the 9/11 victims who spent their last moments calling their loved ones to say “I love you” one last time, nearly every school invited Future Professionals and staff members to pull out their cell phones and call someone to say “I love you.”

“The spirit was high and the atmosphere was charged with compassion, love, and unity,” said Sherman Oaks School Director Stella Davis. “There were tears, hugs, and gratitude for the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Paul Mitchell The School - Costa Mesa and firefighters