About M4K
This winter in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids (and I suppose we can count North Liberty), a yet-to-be-determined number of brave souls will sacrifice their faces (and dignities) as Growers for Mustaches for Kids. Our goal is to use our pushbrooms (mustache lingo, you’ll start to get it) to raise a whole bunch of money for the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids.
Conceptually, Mustaches for Kids works like the read-a-thons you did in grade school. Except there’s no reading requirement. And you’re growing a mustache. (OK - not exactly the same but you get the idea). Each Grower collects pledges from friends, co-workers, distant relatives, acquaintences, local merchants and bus drivers to sponsor their ’stache.
Oh, one more thing… each ’stache is limited to the Magnum P.I. ‘corner-to-corner’ style preferred by motorcycle cops and little league coaches the world over. No goatees, fu-mans, soul patches, stingers, or other redeeming facial hair is allowed. There are rules here, people. This is very serious.
The growing season beings at the Clean Shaven Day Kick-Off and for four glorious weeks thereafter, sweet, sweet ’staches are cultivated. During the growing season, Growers and Sponsors have the opportunity to meet up at weekly Weigh-Ins to give each other moral support, enjoy a beverage or two, and compare their facial follicle follies. At the end of 4 weeks, a ‘Stache Bash Finale is held to determine whose ’stache is sweetest, with much fame and hardware to go around.
This year’s crop of Growers will be a diverse group of men who all share at least two things in common - a desire to make a difference in the lives of some special kids and the ability to not take themselves too seriously.
Since 1999, Mustaches for Kids has spread across the United States and Canada, a steady expansion that is not unlike the measured, deliberate growth of a Mustache. Mustaches for Kids has enjoyed the efforts of an impressive number of Growers who, collectively, have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Make-A-Wish Foundation. We here in Iowa are deviating just slightly from the Make-A-Wish tradition by donating to a local organization, The Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, which was flooded in the summer of 2008. For more information about where our donations are going, visit here.