Who Doesn't Need a Hug These Days?

Paul Mitchell Schools Announce 2nd Annual
Nationwide Free Hugs Day

An army of roughly 10,000 Future Professionals will take to the streets on September 23, 2010, when Paul Mitchell Schools throughout the continental United States and Hawaii hold their second nationwide Free Hugs Day. Inspired by the Sick Puppies YouTube music video about Juan Mann’s popular Free Hugs campaign, numerous Paul Mitchell Schools have held Free Hugs Days throughout America, and last year’s first nationwide Free Hugs Day was a huge success.

“As members of the beauty industry, we’re in the business of helping people look beautiful. More important, it’s part of our ‘be nice’ culture to help people feel beautiful. Our Free Hugs campaign is just one of the many ways our Future Professionals show their passion and compassion in their local communities.”
— Winn Claybaugh, Dean and Cofounder of Paul Mitchell Schools

Dressed in their signature black outfits, carrying handmade “Free Hugs” signs, and naturally sporting fabulous styles, Future Professionals from the network’s 100 schools will head for plazas, parks, and other popular spots to offer hugs and make people’s day. Paul Mitchell artists, educators, top executives, and superstars will join the Future Professionals at Free Hugs locations in their areas.

Events for day and night school students will occur simultaneously in every time zone throughout the country:

Hawaii time: 9 a.m. (day school), 3:30 p.m. (night school)
Pacific time: 11 a.m. (day school), 5:30 p.m. (night school)
Mountain time: 12 noon (day school), 6:30 p.m. (night school)
Central time: 1 p.m. (day school), 7:30 p.m. (night school)
Eastern time: 2 p.m. (day school), 8:30 p.m. (night school)

For more information about Free Hugs Day events in your community, contact your local Paul Mitchell School.

About Paul Mitchell Schools

When visitors tour a Paul Mitchell School, they notice something different—a positive learning environment everywhere they look. Each school is a learning community that provides Future Professionals with the opportunities to develop essential skills while exploring their talents, passion, and creativity. Paul Mitchell School instructors—or “learning leaders”—are trained to draw out the artist in every student and prepare them to compete in the real world. Through their annual three-month “FUNraising campaign,” the nationwide network has raised and donated over $4.6 million to charitable organizations, built two homes with Habitat for Humanity; fed thousands of African orphans; and supported the victims of AIDS, breast cancer, homelessness, hurricanes, abuse, and hundreds of other causes.

Established over 30 years ago, the Paul Mitchell network is nearly 100,000 salons strong and in 81 countries worldwide. Every professional hairdresser knows the Paul Mitchell name. Prospective employers recognize Paul Mitchell Schools’ commitment to quality and their reputation for innovation and excellence. For more information, visit www.paulmitchell.edu.

About the Free Hugs Campaign

Feeling depressed and lonely after numerous personal difficulties, Australian Juan Mann was deeply touched by a random hug from a stranger at a party. What began as one person giving hugs in a Sydney mall eventually evolved into a worldwide social movement of individuals offering hugs to strangers in public places. The campaign received international attention in 2006 as the result of a YouTube music video by Australian band Sick Puppies. For more information, visit the official Free Hugs Campaign Web site at www.freehugscampaign.org.