by Administrative Assistant | Nov 3, 2023 | Community, Events
Julie Anna Densmore
Paulding County Economic Development
PAULDING- Last weekend, stylist Kara Relyea of Hair Off The Square hosted a Cut-A-Thon event to benefit Children With Hair Loss (CWHL), a non-profit organization that makes natural hair wigs for children and young adults with medically-related hair loss.
Held at the Paulding Eagles on Saturday, October 14th, Relyea rallied with friends, family, business owners and members of the community to provide free haircuts, a free will donation dinner and a variety of items for live and silent auction. An Art Me Party with a fall fairy, face painting, glitter tattoos and Justin the Clown were all there to provide plenty of entertainment for the kids.
Relyea’s five-year-old daughter, Aubree, was diagnosed with a form of Alopecia at just three years old. By the time Aubree turned four and was about to start preschool, she had lost all of her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Worried about how the kids in school might treat her, Aubree grew insecure and was afraid to go. Needless to say, Relyea was concerned for her daughter who everyone knew to be such a confident child.
Relyea reached out to Children With Hair Loss, and by Aubree’s first day of preschool, CWHL had provided her with a wig. With her sense of security and confidence renewed by the good people at CWHL, Aubree started going without her wig and was soon thriving and loving school.
Wanting to give back to a cause that gave her family so much, Relyea hosted a Cut-A-Thon for hair donations and to raise funds and awareness for CWHL. The Paulding County community did not disappoint. While Relyea had been collecting hair for donation prior to the event, 31 people had their hair cut at the event, and 88 ponytails were donated that night. With prior donations, Relyea had a total of 140 ponytails. With each wig requiring 10 – 20 ponytails, Relyea potentially provided enough natural hair to create 14 wigs. Without the help of CWHL, a family would expect to pay around $1,500 for a natural hair wig.
With free will donations from the dinner provided, and from the donated items for auction, Relyea raised a total of $7,008 the night of the auction. With additional donations and Cut-A-Thon sponsors, the whole event brought in a total of $11,639.
CWHL Founder Regina Villemure informed Relyea that with the exception of the group they partner with known as The Longhairs, Relyea’s Cut-A-Thon brought in the highest amount any Cut-A-Thon has ever raised.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone involved, this was a huge community and group effort and so much was put into it. Every single person involved has made a huge difference in a lot of kids’ lives, and know you are the reason a child will have a boost of confidence. I cannot wait to present everything to Children With Hair Loss on November 3rd,” said Relyea.
A special thanks to the event sponsors and donors which included: Jason Moore; VFW Post 587; attorney Shane Lee; MTJ Farms, Matt and Christy Stoller; Boyd’s Automotive; Gene and Mary Anne Baughman; Dr. Wendell Spangler; Cooper Hatchery; Paulding Eagles; Lisa and Doug Bragg; Black Angus on Main; and numerous clients and friends of the Relyea family who donated towards the event as well.
Also, a special thanks to guest speaker Taylor Hesseling who shared his own story of coping with Alopecia and has helped raise awareness for the disease.
Relyea is planning another Cut-A-Thon 2024 that will differ from this year’s event and hopes the community will join in again next year.
For more ways you can help children with hair loss, visit childrenwithhairloss.org.
by Administrative Assistant | Oct 16, 2023 | Events
Stylist Kara Relyea of Paulding’s Hair Off The Square is hosting a Cut-A-Thon Saturday, October 14 at 3 p.m. at the Paulding Eagles located at 206 W Perry St.
Relyea has partnered with the non-profit organization Children With Hair Loss (CWHL) to help raise awareness, funds and natural hair to provide wigs for children and young adults facing medically related hair loss.
This cause is very close to Relyea’s heart. Relyea’s five-year-old daughter, Aubree, has an autoimmune disorder known as Alopecia. Before Aubree turned four years old, she had lost all of her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Set to start preschool that August, Aubree was afraid to go, worried how the kids in school might react. All those who knew Aubree knew her to be a confident child, and to see her struggle weighed heavily on her family.
The Relyeas reached out to Children With Hair Loss, and by the time Aubree was ready to start school, the organization had provided her with a wig. Aubree went to school on day one with her wig and gradually started going without it. The organization had not only given her what she needed to feel secure, but it also gave her back her confidence and the ability to thrive and she grew to love going to school.
Aubree turns six in February, and though this is a condition she will live with forever, Relyea reports that her hair is growing back and she has her brows and lashes back. “Giving back to Children With Hair Loss is just a tiny fraction of what they have given back to us,” says Relyea.
CWHL Founder Regina Villemure, a former cosmetology instructor, stylist and hair replacement specialist, started CWHL after her niece, Sarah, was diagnosed with Leukemia at age three. Through Sarah’s five years of chemotherapy treatments, Villemure witnessed many children who had lost their hair and wore synthetic wigs made for adults. Given Villemure’s experience in the hair industry, she knew human hair looked most natural on children, however, natural wigs are very costly and knew most families were unable to afford them. From this experience, Villemure made it her mission to “Cover Young Heads to Heal Young Hearts.”
Each wig costs $1,500 to make. Relyea hopes to raise money for wigs and donate hair that will go to other children who can be helped as much as Aubree has.
Relyea expressed her immense gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying “This community has shown us so much love and grace, there is nowhere else I want to live and raise my children. The response we have already gotten for this event is beyond mind-blowing. God has given us an opportunity to give back and I am so thankful we have the community to help do this big.”
100% of the hair and proceeds donated at this event will go directly to (CWHL). For those willing to donate their hair, it must be at least 8 inches in length. Haircutting will begin at 3 p.m. followed by a free will donation dinner at 5 p.m. and the live auction to begin around 6 p.m. Be sure to bring all the kiddos as there will be an Art Me Party with face painting, rock painting, and a visit from Justin the Clown at 6 p.m.
For more ways you can help children with hair loss, visit childrenwithhairloss.org.
by Administrative Assistant | Sep 13, 2023 | Community, Events
Paulding County’s highly anticipated annual Flat Rock Creek Fall Festival is almost here!
This year features an exciting addition to the schedule of events, with the first-ever Youth Business Showcase taking place Saturday, September 16th between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the OSU Extension Building located at 503 Fairground Drive in Paulding.
Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) has partnered with the Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce, First Financial Bank and the Ohio Small Business Development Center to create an opportunity for kids 18 and under to showcase a wide range of talents and business ventures to the public.
In addition to receiving feedback from local business leaders, two awards are up for grabs for participants. Attendees will cast a vote for their favorite young entrepreneur for a People’s Choice Award sponsored by the Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce. Three Winners will receive a prize bag featuring items and gift cards donated from local businesses. These awards will be presented towards the end of the showcase.
A Judge’s Choice Award will be presented to one winner who will receive a free checking account from First Financial Bank, admission to Northwest State’s summer entrepreneur camp, and the opportunity to participate in PCED’s marketing small business assistance program that can help create a logo and marketing plan for their business.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to support the youth entrepreneurs during the Youth Business Showcase hours. Attendees will have the chance to shop and explore a range of products and services, while also participating in the voting process to determine their favorite entrepreneurs.
