Three fundraising teams at Howard Payne University, comprised of students in the Baptist Student Ministry and faculty and staff members, grew beards for the month of November as an endeavor to raise money for missions.
The goal for the fundraiser this year was $3,000 and by the end of the night on Monday, December 6, $7,919 had been donated to Go Now Missions, to support university student missionaries through the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
“We more than tripled what we raised during the mustache fundraiser last year,” said Kate Blackshear, BSM director at HPU. “This event keeps growing in momentum each year and it’s so exciting! We exceeded our goal to give to Go Now from HPU.”
All money was due by December 6. The team that raised the most money was exempt from spinning the large wooden wheel depicting various styles of mustaches and beards. The male members of the two remaining teams spun the wheel, shaved their faces in whichever style the wheel determined and were encouraged to sport the new facial hair style for the week.
Kevin Kirk, assistant vice president for enrollment management, said, “growing my beard, losing my beard and then sporting a new mustache for a few days was a small price to pay. I was so proud of our students, faculty and staff and how they truly supported this effort.”
Fundraising strategies for each team varied from bake sales and concerts to raking leaves and serving food. One team even had their female members wear fake mustaches around campus until they raised their individual goals.
Senior Molly Gore said, “Since we were unable to spin the wheel, as girls, we decided to help out our fellow teammates by wearing fake mustaches to all of our classes until we raised $50 each. We found it was pretty easy to raise the money as long as we were creative and funny about our fundraising tactics. Most of the time people are willing to give; they just need to find the opportunity.”
HPU has six students that will be going on Go Now Mission trips over the Christmas break. Clay Tyner will be traveling to Haiti, Ciera Culpepper and Dani Clark will be in Jamaica, Katie Walker and Carlee Ammons will be going to Moldova and Monique Ching will be in East Asia. The money raised by this project will help support these students along with additional student missionaries from across the state.
The HPU BSM will raise money in the spring to help support individual HPU student missionaries who will serve on trips over the summer of 2011.
Pictured above HPU students John Aceves and Nathan Gilbert get their beards shaved for the missions fundraiser at HPU.
Below are more photos of the event. Photos contributed.
Dr. Marsh, vice president for student life and dean of students at Howard Payne University, spins the mustache wheel during the event.
HPU student Chris Thompson wore a half-beard on campus for a week after helping raise money for missions.
