Paul Mitchell Schools Raise $1M for Charity: Results Announced at 2022 Gala Event

Each year, participating students (aka “Future Professionals”) and team members from the 100+ independently owned and operated franchise cosmetology and/or barbering schools operating under the Paul Mitchell brand spend the months of August through October voluntarily “FUNraising” for national and local charities. This year’s campaign raised over $1 million, bringing their 19-year total to $24 million.

Paul Mitchell franchise schools are committed to making a difference in the world. Their efforts have built homes with Habitat for Humanity in partnership with Vidal Sassoon; helped the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast) in their fight against human trafficking; and supported the victims of AIDS, breast cancer, homelessness, hurricanes, abuse, and hundreds of other causes.

Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh says, “Nineteen years later and I’m still a bit baffled and amazed that students at the beginning stages of launching their careers can raise over a million dollars, and I know the charities we support feel the same way. While most fundraising campaigns target deep pockets, we continue to be grassroots. It’s not just about the dollar amount; it’s about the journey, the challenge, and the face-to-face connections with people donating $5 and $10 at a time.”

A Culture of Giving

The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom, home of the Golden Globes and hundreds of other red-carpet events, offered the perfect backdrop for the star-studded Gala. In addition to school owners and team members from participating Paul Mitchell Schools, the guest list included founders and representatives from this year’s supported charities:

Marie Osmond – Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Nicole Scherzinger – Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast)
John Paul DeJoria – Food 4 Africa
AJ Buckley (star of TV’s SEAL Team) – Gary Sinise Foundation
Leeza Gibbons – Leeza’s Care Connection
Kathy Buckley – No Limits for Deaf Children
Seth Maxwell – Thirst Project and Legacy Youth Leadership
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Best Friends Animal Society

“Unlike many galas, ours is not an opportunity to fundraise. We’re here to celebrate our 19-year legacy of students and team members volunteering their time to raise money for causes they care about.”

– Winn Claybaugh

First 100 winners join charity representatives onstage to announce results of the 2022 FUNraising campaign

First 100 Winners Take Center Stage

The audience also included the first 100 students and school team members who individually raised at least $3,000 for the supported charities. Thanks to generous event sponsors, First 100 winners received a ticket to the Gala and an after-party just for them, plus accommodations at the Beverly Hilton and a day of hands-on education with:

Celebrity barber and North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) 2022 Educator of the Year John Mosley
Paul Mitchell Master Associate Pamela Perettie
Award-winning makeup artist Yvonne Macinnis

Nine First 100 Winners Named Honorary Co-Hosts

Nine of the First 100 winners were chosen as honorary Gala co-hosts, speaking onstage about their chosen charity and introducing that organization’s spokesperson. Kaitlynne Nichols, a Future Professional from Paul Mitchell The School in Normal, Illinois, introduced Leeza’s Care Connection founder, Leeza Gibbons.

Kaitlynne Nichols, Leeza Gibbons

“When Kaitlynne stepped up to the mic to talk about our work, I was beaming with pride and excitement,” Leeza said. “Having a beautiful, eloquent, First 100 winners tell why Leeza’s Care Connection mattered to her was the ultimate full-circle moment. I’ve been introduced by political leaders, celebrities, and newsmakers of all types, but THIS was straight from the heart. Having the First 100 winners be front and center puts the focus where it should be: on the Future Professionals who own their story of change.”

[L-R] Miguel Salas, AJ Buckley, Anna Knabel, Nicole Scherzinger

Paul Mitchell Schools’ Local Charity Donations

Future Professionals and team members from participating Paul Mitchell Schools also have the opportunity to volunteer and fundraise for nonprofit organizations in their local communities, such as boys and girls clubs, animal shelters and rescue groups, nursing homes and senior centers, organizations that help people return to the workforce, and domestic violence and homeless shelters, to name just a few. (Local fundraising and volunteer activities vary by school.)

One of this year’s recipients was Food on the Move, founded by Taylor Hanson of the band Hanson and supported by Paul Mitchell The School Tulsa.

“While people attend a Food On The Move event, not only is there a DJ playing, and a tasty food truck serving, there are also free haircuts, thanks to the generosity of our partners at Paul Mitchell The School Tulsa,” Taylor said. “By bringing together a host of partner organizations to work alongside communities without grocery stores, we have served millions of pounds of fresh produce, taught a new generation about the power of growing and eating fresh food, and watched the seeds of transformation begin to take root.”

Taylor Hanson and First 100 winners at 2022 Paul Mitchell Schools FUNraising Gala

Taylor Hanson and 2022 "First 100" Winners

Charity Event Includes World-Class Entertainment

No Gala is complete without entertainment, and this one included Terri Nunn of Berlin, who performed at the 2015 Gala and returned to help Winn introduce Broadway star Renée Elise Goldsberry.

Renée is best known for her Tony and Grammy award-winning role in Hamilton. She currently stars in Tina Fey’s Emmy-nominated series, GIRLS5EVA.

[L-R] Terri Nunn, Winn Claybaugh, Renee Elise Goldsberry

ABOUT THE PAUL MITCHELL SCHOOL NETWORK

Paul Mitchell Advanced Education, LLC, is a partially owned subsidiary of John Paul Mitchell Systems and the franchisor of 100+ independently owned and operated franchise cosmetology and/or barbering schools operating under the Paul Mitchell brand.

At Paul Mitchell Advanced Education, we believe that education is an adventure and the learning experience needs to be fun and well rounded. Our courses focus on cosmetology, esthetics, and barbering education, highlighting important theory, practical, and business skills and emphasizing social and community responsibility. Our Learning Leaders are trained to draw out the artist in our Future Professionals and prepare them to enter their chosen careers as community-conscious salon, barbershop, beauty, and spa professionals. Visit www.paulmitchell.edu to learn more.

Over the last 20 years, the Paul Mitchell School network’s annual FUNraising campaign has collectively raised and donated over $24 million through the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation in support of many charitable causes. Learn more at www.paulmitchell.edu/giving-back.