Giving back to their local community has been an integral part of the mission of Karen and Michael Shea’s Summit Salon Academy in Tacoma, Wash., since the hair and esthetics school first opened its doors in 2006. In 2016, they created Hair BRA-Zaar, a hair and fashion show centered around decorating bras to represent their mission of raising funds for breast cancer research.

This year, the Academy blew away their previous results, raising $32,000 for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit HairToStay’s Sydney Berry Fund. More than 100 students showcased their hairstyling and makeup skills and creativity with fun and fashionable looks centered around the theme “In a Barbie World.” They even designed the costumes for each look!

HairToStay is the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping cancer patients afford scalp cooling, an FDA-cleared treatment that can dramatically reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Seattle-based Sydney Berry, a cancer “thriver” for the past 30 years, is a 50-year beauty industry veteran, former hair stylist and salon owner, retired owner of the area’s largest entrepreneurial professional products distributor and immediate past chair of the Professional Beauty Association. The Sydney Berry Fund helps beauty professionals who are diagnosed with breast cancer afford scalp cooling.

Attended by friends, family members, school alumni, local beauty professionals and community friends and supporters, the event also featured a silent auction, with many community businesses donating items. A local restaurant provided refreshments. Professional beauty product distributors Salon Services Pro and SalonCentric plus PCA Skin provided swag bags packed with beauty products for attendees. During the show, cancer thrivers and survivors shared their emotional stories.

“We believe it is important to teach our students the value of philanthropy and demonstrate how the beauty industry is and has always been in service to others,” explains Karen Shea, who owns Summit Salon Academy with her husband, Michael. “As a cosmetology school, we knew creating some type of hair/fashion show would be an important element to showcase our students’ talents, and we also wanted to combine this with a way to raise funds for charitable causes. The experience helped our students learn about the elements of creating a show and supporting an important cause. It was a fun learning experience for everyone!”

As part of their learning experience, Berry spoke to the students twice about her cancer journey and cosmetology career, and provided information about HairToStay and the importance of giving back to their community throughout their careers.

“About 8% of women refuse chemotherapy for fear of losing their hair,” says Bethany Hornthal, founder of HairToStay. “Scalp Cooling represents more than just physical preservation; it offers emotional resilience and a semblance of normalcy during a tumultuous time.” Since its inception in 2016, HairToStay has awarded subsidies to more than 6,200 patients across all 50 states, providing up to $1,500 in financial assistance to eligible patients who otherwise could not afford the Scalp Cooling treatment.

“The impact for the students of Summit Salon Academy around the Hair BRA-Zaar event was profound for their future careers in cosmetology. They now have a resource to guide their clients as first responders with their knowledge of options in supporting clients diagnosed with breast cancer," says Sydney Berry of the Sydney Berry Fund for HairToStay. "As we uniquely understand in this industry, hair is a huge part of our identity! Upon discovery of a cancer diagnosis, seeking answers and resources is imperative."

Berry continues: "Our doctor’s focus is to save our lives, and many times they don’t realize the emotional toll that hair loss has on our mental health for the patient and for the family, colleagues and the community response. Everyone, including the patient, wishes to see ourselves as who we are and were prior to treatment, as it maintains our purposeful healing to conquer and thrive during treatment. Karen and Michael Shea understand the true future ripple success for their students to be equipped with the knowledge of this resource necessary to strengthen the bond with their client. The beauty industry has a true power in the difference we make in the lives of our clients by our actions. Teaching philanthropy to students gives them additional understanding of their gift in the world!”

In addition to supporting HairToStay, Summit Salon Academy has raised funds for Justice and Soul, a foundation co-created by a Seattle-area salon owner and friend of the Academy, Matthew Fairfax, to support the Kate Korpi salon/school in Cambodia, which helps sex trafficking victims transition into a better life. Summit Salon Academy also supports its local community in Pierce County through various events, including food drives. In addition, students and staff bring cheer to needy families in December through their annual Giving Tree. They have also supported domestic violence survivors and the Wings of Karen foundation.

“Our hearts are full knowing we’ve made a difference to others, and that’s what a career in cosmetology is all about,” concludes Shea.

To learn more about HairToStay and how to participate in its Cold Rinse Challenge, visit here.