It's Time for Mustaches for Kids 2010

So it's time for Indianapolis's most manly charity, Mustaches for Kids! Doesn't the thought of growing a mustache for one month for charity just make you so excited?! Here's all you need to know to get started:

How it Works
From Friday, February 5 through Friday, March 5 we'll be growing a sweet 'stache. The rules are simple: you have to shave off all your facial hair to start growing (no head starts allowed), and any type of mustache is allowed. Show off your best fu-manchu, some great Hulk Hogan handle bars, or just keep it classic. On February 5th we'll kick things off with a little get together of growers (see more info below on events), and March 5th will be our big bash with prizes, mustache contests, and more. And then you can shave and retire your mustache until next year. That's pretty simple, right?

The Cause
So why are we doing this? To help kids in need (hence the name of the organization)! M4K chapters across the country are supporting student needs at DonorsChoose.org by creating individual pages where people can donate. It's simple. The same as if you were running a 5K for charity, you reach out to your friends, family, and coworkers for donations, but instead of giving you a check, they can go donate to a project at DonorsChoose.org that inspires them. All you need to do is go to www.donorschoose.org and create your page and link it to the M4K - Indy chapter leaderboard. For instructions on how to do this, go to www.donorschoose.org/mustachesforkids and click on "Create a Giving Page" or go here to download a PDF that walks you through the process.

The Events
1. Friday, February 5th: M4K Kickoff! This is a chance to get together, meet some of the other growers, get any questions answered, drink some beer, hang out, and prep those follicles. We'll be in the back at Average Joe's in Broad Ripple at 8pm. What better way to kick off your Super Bowl weekend?! Also, the first round's on M4K!

2. Friday, March 5th: Stache Bash! We will celebrate your awesome stache, the dollar's we raised for children in need, give out awards and prizes, and drink (again, some rounds free for our awesome growers).. See how much beer foam your stache can retain! There will be prizes for best/worst stache, most money raised, door prizes, etc. Location still TBD so check back.

Recruit Your Friends
The more growers, the better (and the less awkward we look, right?)!. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, and everyone you know that they can get involved. And ladies, you can play a huge part in recruiting your friends to grow - tell the fine gentlemen you know that mustaches are HOT, and they'll grow for sure. One great way to recruit others is to post about it on Facebook or Twitter, too.

Word to your 'Stache!

'Stache Success!

The inaugural year of Mustaches for Kids in Indianapolis proved to be a tremendous success! Overall, we had about 13 growers and raised over $5,300 to help over 3,000 Indianapolis students! Full results can be viewed here. Overall, M4K Nationwide brought in over $265,000!

The month of growing ended on Saturday with a 'Stache Bash in Broad Ripple, which was tons of fun. Awards were given out, and 'stache stories were shared. Congrats to Justin Johnson for winning "best stache" (his prize was some mustache wax for future styling), "worst stache" Brian Overholser (proud recipient of some small pink lady razors to shave his weak stache), and, most importantly, Matt Connor for raising the most money ($1,234, which netted him a sweet Mustached Peyton Manning trophy).

Check out some pictures from the Bash on Facebook. Thanks to all the awesome Growers, and I can't wait for next year, where we plan to be at least twice as large!

Commander-in-Mustache?!?

Came across this great picture online. I like the look, and I think our president-elect needs to bring back the presidential mustache. I know this will catch on with the kids.

Mustaches - 2 weeks in

Check out my righteous 2-week-old mustache. I know, it's still kind of sad. To improve it, donate to Indianapolis mustache growers! We've had some great participation and are currently in 6th place, beating out Mustache chapters that have been around for years. But we still need your support' every dollar helps and goes to a great cause helping students learn!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving of turkey and 'stached-potatoes!

Day 5 - We need your support!

Here's my slow-growing 'stache. Be sure to visit the Indianapolis Grower Pages and make a donation. Currently we are in 8th place, but we've been as high as 4th, so we need more donations to get us back on top!

Mustache Season - Day 1

So, it's common knowledge that Smiley's don't grow the best facial hair. I have a serious uphill battle with my follicle fortitude, but for what it's worth, here's Mustache Day 1. What? You say you can't see a hint of a mustache? This is going to be a looooong month.

I'll also upload pictures of other Indianapolis growers who pass them along, and once the 'stache starts seasoning, costumes are always appropriate.

Shaving Day!

Shaving Day is here, and Mustaches for Kids - Indianapolis is officially underway! We have a multitude of growers on board, and please visit our Giving Pages to donate. Every dollar can make a huge difference in a child's life.

In honor of Shaving Day, here is a fantastic mustache we can all be striving for.

Everything you need to know to participate

Indianapolis Mustache Growers, shoot me an e-mail and I can send you all the great material you need to know to start growing and start collecting donations through DonorsChoose.org. It's really simple, and the sooner you get started, the less you'll have to do in November! May the 'Stache be with you!

Learn more at DonorsChoose.org

Indianapolis Mustache Growers - check out DonorsChoose.org's Blog for more info on the mustache challenge!

Welcome to the all new Indianapolis chapter of Mustaches for Kids!

Welcome to the Indianapolis chapter of Mustaches for Kids!

This new Indianapolis chapter will follow in the footsteps of all the great chapters across the US and Canada. Check out the blogroll for lists of other great chapters across the country.

Mustaches for Kids is a volunteer-run organization started in Los Angeles in 1999 to do good and have fun by growing Mustaches for children's charities. Here's how it works: Each year, during the four-week Growing Season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Growers sprout sweet, sweet Mustaches. Per Mustaches for Kids bylaws, they shave their faces, except for the Mustache, a minimum of one time per week and solicit donations from friends, family, co-workers, and people in the community. Kind of like getting pledges to run a marathon. Without the exertion, cramping, or dehydration. Call it a facial hair marathon.

At the end of the Growing Season, each Mustaches for Kids chapter hosts a Mustache Competition (or Stache Bash, if you will), which is a cross between a beauty pageant, dog show, and police line up. During the Competition, Growers, often in Mustache-enhancing costumes, are put through a test of mind, body, and Mustache and allow their facial hair to be evaluated by an independent panel of judges, and one Mustache is declared to be the "Sweetest."

The “Growing Season” will take place between November 13th and December 11th and all donations will benefit DonorsChoose.org, an education nonprofit that helps public school students. DonorsChoose.org allows public school teachers, many of whom work at underserved schools, to submit proposals for projects and supplies that would otherwise be unfunded, and donors from all over the country fund projects that they choose. Teachers ask, you choose, students learn.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please email Kirk at akirksmiley (at) yahoo (dot) com. The website will be updated more this fall to get everyone excited for mustache season and to share more instructions regarding how to participate in Indianapolis. Get ready to make a dash for the 'stache!