College Students To 'GET BUZZED'…For Good

STERLING, Ill., Oct. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Getting buzzed -- it's a topic of concern at college campuses nationwide, but one company and fraternity are turning it into a positive this fall. Wahl Clipper, the leading manufacturer of hair clippers, and Kappa Sigma Fraternity are urging college students nationwide to "Get Buzzed for Good" by picking up a clipper and raising funds to support the St. Baldrick's Foundation and their fight against childhood cancers.

Starting this month, college students will be shaving their heads to support GET BUZZED, a new fundraising campaign from Wahl and Kappa Sigma to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation to support childhood cancer research. The campaign kicks off with a live head-shaving event on the National Mall in Washington D.C. on October 18, where students from area universities such as George Washington, Catholic University of America, George Mason and Towson are putting their head where their heart is.

"A child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes, said Heather Kash, senior director of corporate relations and risk management  for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, the largest private funder of pediatric cancer research grants. "Unfortunately, all types of childhood cancers combined only receive four percent of U.S. federal funding for research. That's what makes efforts like GET BUZZED so vital. It's an opportunity for college students to help children with cancer fulfill their future dreams; whether it is to go to college, travel the world, or to have a family of their own. It is our mission to not only find cures for all childhood cancers, but to find better treatments so that all children can live long, healthy lives."

The goal of the campaign is to raise $50,000 for childhood cancer research. To help make this a reality, other schools and students are getting buzzed, as well. On Nov. 15, New York University's (NYU) Kappa Sigma chapter is organizing a head-shaving event with several universities in the Greater New York City area coming together to support the cause. Colleges participating in GET BUZZED can be found at getbuzzed4good.com.    

At each GET BUZZED event, students and the general public will have the opportunity to take the stage and get their head shaved in front of family and friends. Those who do will join a growing fraternity of supporters who have helped the St. Baldrick's Foundation, the world's leading organizer of head-shaving events has raised more than $152 million for lifesaving research since 2005. This year alone, more than 57,000 volunteers, including students, business professionals, first responders, and beauty queens, have gone under the clippers at more than 1,300 St. Baldrick's events.

"We're excited to raise money for childhood cancer at our third-annual Shave Away event with the help of Wahl and St. Baldrick's," said John Leech, President Kappa Sigma Alpha-Eta. "The #GetBuzzed4Good campaign is not only an awareness event for the George Washington University and D.C. community, but also a fantastic method for raising funds to support clinical trials, patient care, and professional training to combat one of the most devastating diseases existing right now.  The St. Baldrick's Foundation is one of the most effective outlets for research, and as a member of Alpha-Eta, I speak for the chapter when I say we are all extremely proud and humbled to help such a dedicated organization." 

GET BUZZED supports "Cuts for a Cause", a new program from Wahl Clipper to help raise funds for non-profit organizations through charitable head-shaving, haircutting and facial hair trimming events. In just one year, Cuts for a Cause has helped non-profit organizations such as St. Baldrick's raise nearly $1 million through product donations and contributions.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Kappa Sigma and to once again support the St. Baldrick's Foundation and their fight against childhood cancer," said Steven Yde, director of marketing for Wahl Clipper. "GET BUZZED is more than just a campaign to raise money for a good cause, it's a rally cry to inspire a new generation to get involved in something they can believe in."

To GET BUZZED, with Wahl Clipper and Kappa Sigma, visit getbuzzedforgood.com. For additional information on how to donate, find a participating school or learn more about St. Baldrick's Foundation, the site features #Getbuzzed4good photo gallery consisting of BUZZED students from around the country. Follow Wahl on Facebook and Twitter. For information on Wahl's Cuts for a Cause Program, visit cutsforacause.org. 

About Wahl Clipper 
Since 1919, Wahl Clipper Corporation has been the leader in the professional and home grooming category. Today, Wahl manufactures a variety of facial hair trimmers and clippers, including the first-ever line to harness the power of lithium ion. For more information, visit www.wahlgrooming.com.

About Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma Fraternity is one of the largest college fraternities with 17,500 members on 314 college campus throughout the United States and Canada and more than 200,000 living alumni around the world. Annually, Kappa Sigma undergraduates donate more than $3 million and one million hours to charitable causes. For more information, www.kappasigma.org

About St. Baldrick's Foundation
The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Since 2005, St. Baldrick's has awarded more than $152 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick's funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials. For more information about the St. Baldrick's Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

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SOURCE Wahl Clipper