February, 2007

Forget the traditional Valentine’s Day trappings of chocolates and roses. The on-site salons at Cedar Crest, Eagle’s Trace, Highland Springs, Monarch Landing, and Sedgebrook will be showing the love this February 14 by hosting “haircut-a-thons” to benefit Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss. These events are open to residents, staff, their family and friends, and the general public. Anyone who has hair long enough to donate a 10-inch ponytail to Locks of Love will get a free haircut during the event. For everyone else, 20 percent of the cost of their haircut will be donated to Locks of Love. These salons are all managed by Healthcare Cosmetology Services, Inc., which is underwriting these events.

Cedar Crest resident Ruth Slezak is the impetus for this year’s haircut-a-thons. Last year, she donated her 12-inch ponytail to the charity. Her act of kindness garnered a lot of attention from staff and residents at Cedar Crest, and helped create these five events this year. “I was excited to be doing something nice for someone else,” says Slezak. “I loved my haircut by Linda Killman and am growing it out in order to donate my ponytail again in the future.”

At all campuses, appointments for the day of the haircut-a-thon are required and must be made by Friday, February 9. To make an appointment, please call:

• The Woodland Commons Salon and Spa at Cedar Crest, 201-618-7444

• The Audubon Salon and Spa at Eagle’s Trace, 281-249-7250

• The Hillcrest Salon and Spa at Highland Springs, 972-232-8039

• The Promenade Salon and Spa at Monarch Landing, 603-300-1280

• The Cardinal Salon and Spa at Sedgebrook, 847-876-2350

Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides recipients with a custom, vacuum-fitted hairpiece made entirely from donated human hair. The vacuum fit is designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair and does not require the use of tape or glue. Most of the applicants suffer from an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata for which there is no known cause or cure. Others have suffered severe burns or injuries or endured radiation treatment to the brain stem or other dermatological conditions that result in permanent hair loss. The organization, which began operation in 1998, has helped more than 2,000 children since its first year of operation. Thousands of bundles of donated hair arrive as a result of the national publicity that Locks of Love receives in newspapers, magazines, and television programs. Children comprise over 80 percent of the donors, making this a charity where children have an opportunity to help children.

Donated hair is evaluated for its usefulness according to the following guidelines:

• It must be at least 10 inches in length

• It must be bundled in a ponytail or a braid

• Bleached hair cannot be used.

• Hair that has been dyed or permed can be used.

For more information about Locks of Love, please call (561)-963-1677,

or 1-888-896-1588, or visit www.LocksofLove.org. (Jackie Schatell, Kate Newton Schmelyun)