Arcadia’s Matt Denny’s Hosts Biggest ever Childhood Cancer Fundraiser – Approximately $50, 000 Raised in One night with the help of 130 Shaved Heads

Demon Barber Cathy Carter takes a stab at Matt McSweeny's (aka Todd) locks Tuesday night - all in good fundraising. Photos by Terry MIller

Arcadia’s Matt Denny’s Hosts Biggest ever Childhood Cancer Fundraiser – Approximately $50, 000 Raised in One night with the help of 130 Shaved Heads

By Terry Miller
Started about 10 years ago by some New York insurance executives, the St. Baldrick’s annual fundiarsing event has grown exponentially in popularity.
Each year 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada.
On a national level, the St Baldrick’s foundation has thus far raised $13,756,213 this year alone according to a check on their website.

Locally, at Matt McSweeny’s popular speakeasy, Matt Denny’s Ale House, the ninth annual event to shave heads in solidarity with children suffering from cancer being treated at City of Hope, seemed to attract a lot more people than in years past.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Matt Denny’s hosted the head-shaving event to raise funds and awareness for life-saving childhood cancer research. With an initial goal of raising $30,000, nearly and over 130 participants it seems Matt Denny’s once again outdid their individual goal.
Last year, customers at Matt Denny have collected over $53,000 for the fundraiser when all the pennies were counted. It could easily be another record year for Matt Denny’s and St Baldrick’s.
Why all the shaved heads? St. Baldrick’s is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for childhood cancer research by hosting worldwide head-shaving events where volunteers collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund childhood cancer research.

Members of the Arcadia Fire and Police Department will be shaving their heads to honor the more than 160,000 kids diagnosed each year worldwide. Children from the City of Hope, who will arrive in style on fire engines thanks to the support of the local fire department, are the event’s special guests of the night and will be helping take swipes of hair off the local firefighters and police officers heads. Hair Stylists from Del Sol Salon & Spa will be serving as volunteer barbers. The event will also include live music, an ice cream sundae station and food throughout the evening. Raffle prizes will be drawn throughout the event as well. For more information, check out the event page on the St. Baldrick’s website.

Firefighters from, Arcadia Fire Department, Monrovia Fire Dept and officers from Arcadia Police Dept. had their heads shaved Del Salon stylists assisted by children from the City of Hope in order to raise funds (and the all important awareness) for pediatric cancer research and to give encouragement and support to the children of the Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope.
As usual, the wonderful women ( and one man) at Del Sol Salon next door to Matt Denny’s provided the expert talent of hairstylists including Cathy Carter ( whose husband George Carter from the Pasadena Lion’s Club, is the founding member of Arcadia’s St. Baldricks nine years ago.)

The Arcadia Firefighters’ Association took the children from City of Hope and became honorary firefighters for a day and gave as they rode to Matt Denny’s in a fire engine. Affording the children the opportunity shave firefighters’ heads in solidarity gives enormous encouragement and inspiration as they battle their particular cancer. It was this image that truly brought some of the biggest smiles we’ve ever seen.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation raises money and awareness globally for childhood cancer research. We will be shaving our heads in front of cheering supporters to experience for ourselves and to encourage the kids through one of the most stigmatizing public aspects of childhood cancer- losing one’s hair from chemotherapy treatment. Last year, the event collected over $53,000 towards pediatric cancer research.

Matt McSweeny has been a consistent partner with St Baldrick’s having the event at his restaurant/pub every year without fail. Mc Sweeny said it is a real “community builder” giving people in all walks of life a chance to get to know one another in a fun, friendly environment and at the same time raising a tremendous amount of cash for research.

Over 78% of monies raised at St. Baldrick’s goes directly into research. 19% goes back into fund-raising and only 3% for administrative expenses.

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