The stylists at Shear Forté Hair Design in Clay aren’t just in the business of giving their clients a new ‘do. They’re raising money for a different charity each month by raffling off gift baskets.
Beginning in November 2014, Shear Forté owners Cindy Hayes and Debbie Corapi and their staff of 17 stylists settled on one charity to raise money for each month. Each stylist gets the chance to feature her pet cause.
The salon collects donations for a themed gift basket and sells raffle tickets to customers. Hayes said a recent basket was “warm and cozy”-themed, complete with slippers, blankets and tea.
Shear Forté’s project kicked off in November, raising $650 for Corapi’s “Kicking Kidney Disease” cause. Last March, Corapi received a kidney transplant at Upstate University Hospital’s Transplant Clinic.
“I wanted to give back,” Corapi said.
The basket wasn’t Corapi’s first effort for Kicking Kidney Disease, the proceeds from which go toward buying blankets, pillows, body warmers and a television for the transplant clinic.
Last year, Corapi raised $2,000 for the transplant clinic with the help of Bryan Morgan from Dynamic Health and Fitness of Baldwinsville. Their fundraising event sparked the idea for the monthly raffle baskets at the salon.
January’s raffle raised $100 for Vera House. This month, it was Hayes’ turn to choose a charity. She opted for Maureen’s Hope Foundation, the Baldwinsville-based nonprofit that offers support to people who have been diagnosed with cancer or other life-altering diseases.
Susan Bertrand, founder and president of Maureen’s Hope, is a customer at the salon.
“Cindy and Debbie both have a very philanthropic heart,” Bertrand said.
“I always say you don’t have to do things on a big, grand scale to make a difference,” Bertrand added. “For me, those small donations mean just as much as large ones.”
Hayes said the raffles are a fun way for the stylists to learn about each other’s interests and to spread awareness of different causes among their customers.
“Debbie and I became very passionate about it,” she said. “We get a lot of people through our doors. It’s nice for them to see the girls care.”
Hayes said the salon offers the perfect platform for their charity work. Stylists chat with their clients about that month’s cause, spreading awareness one style at a time.
“It’s a good topic of conversation,” Hayes said.
“So many people have learned about Maureen’s Hope through Shear Forté,” Bertrand said. “It’s all about sharing your personal story. … When you know better, you do better.”
The February basket, which benefits Maureen’s Hope, is “date night” themed for Valentine’s Day. It contains gift certificates to Shear Forté and Avicolli’s, chocolate, a movie and more.
To learn how to enter this month’s raffle, call Shear Forté at 622-4040 or visit the salon at 8203 Oswego Road, Liverpool.
