Who: When Laura Ann Johnson, 23, who grew up in Wilmette, decided to cut her long blond hair earlier this month, she donated it to Locks of Love, a nonprofit providing custom-made hairpieces for children who suffer from medical hair loss.
Whom she does it for: Locks of Love, based in West Palm Beach, Fla., and founded in 1997, provides children ages 6 to 18 with hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need, communications director Lauren Kukkamaa said. The custom hairpieces are vacuum-fitted so children can do normal activities, such as showering, swimming and playing sports.
Hair must meet certain guidelines to be accepted, and it takes six to 10 ponytails or braids to make one hairpiece.
“Our biggest supporters are the volunteers who help us do this on a day-to-day basis, in our office or like this young woman did by cutting and donating her hair,” Kukkamaa said.
What she does in real life: Johnson, who graduated from DePauw University and now lives in Maple City, Michigan, is director of Leelanau Outdoor Center, a team-building and nature studies facility for students in fourth-grade through high school. She aspires to be an opera singer and plans to get her master’s in music.
Why she did it: Johnson thinks it’s pretty cool she could give something she really liked about herself to help someone else.
“I love it, but it’s really short,” Johnson said of her new hairdo. “It’s a big change, but compared to what (the children) are going through, it’s nothing. I think I’ll do it again.
“I’ve found it interesting that my hair hasn’t changed anything about my personality or who I am … it doesn’t matter what my hair looks like, I can still be who I want to be,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s hair produced eight ponytails and was cut by Markus Oliver, owner and stylist at Markus, A Salon for Men and Women in Lake Forest, who donated his services.
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“She was just such a good sport about doing this, and she had every anticipation that it would be used in the right way,” Markus said. “I wouldn’t say it was brave, but it was the right thing to do at the right time.”
Markus has since had several people ask about the program. “If she did anything, she’s brought a real awareness (to the program). Just by one person’s actions, we are getting more reaction. That’s the big message here.
“I’ve been doing her hair since she was a little girl, and she’s helping kids now who are the same age as she was when I started cutting her hair. Talk about life going full circle.”
How you can help: For guidelines, applications and participating salons, visit locksoflove.org or call 561-833-7332.
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HELPING OUT
FUNDRAISERS
*Casper Group’s annual Football FUNraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Mickey Finn’s Brewery, 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Football legends Mike Ditka, Nick Roach, Johnny Lattner, Dave Casper and Gary Potempa will attend. The event will benefit St. Martin de Porres High School in Waukegan and the charitable efforts of the Notre Dame Club of Lake County. Tickets cost $100 online or at the door. Visit smdpwaukegan.org.
*Family Fun Day and walk-a-thon to benefit CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Hersey High School, 1900 E. Thomas Ave., Arlington Heights. Registration is $5 per person with $20 maximum per family. For a pledge sheet, visit jhhs.d214.org/activities/FinePerformingA rts/index.php. Call Joann Langley at 847-718-4942.
*”Recipe for Success” to benefit Countryside Association for people with disabilities will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in The Meadows Club, 2950 W. Golf Road, Rolling Meadows. There will be appetizer-size dishes from area restaurants, live music, silent auction and raffle. Tickets cost $75 in advance and $90 at the door. Call 847-540-3705 or visit countrysideassn.org.
*A fashion show luncheon to benefit the Mount Prospect Historical Society will be held at noon Sunday in The Wellington of Arlington, 2121 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Tickets cost $40. Cash bar. Call 847-392-9006 or visit mtphistory.org.
*Katie Memorial Foundation’s annual 5K Fun Run & Walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Sun Lake Forest Preserve, West Grass Lake Road, Lake Villa. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for kids in advance, and $25 and $15 the day of the event. The foundation, in memory of Katie LaPlante Evans, supports educational and service opportunities in public health and human services. Visit katiememorialfoundation.org/home/.
*The Schaumburg Township Human Services Fund will hold a fundraiser trip Monday to the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. The bus will depart at 9:30 a.m. from the Township Building, 1 Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates. The cost is $30 and includes transportation, five hours of gaming, buffet and a $5 coin voucher. The fund helps disabled, senior, youth and disadvantaged township residents. Call 847-884-0030.
*UTSAV, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving East Indian culture, will host a gala dinner and cultural celebration at 7 p.m. Friday in the Chicago Marriott Northwest, 4800 Hoffman Blvd., Hoffman Estates. There will be folk dances by dance groups from Northwestern University, dinner, music and casino tables. Tickets cost $80 for adults, $65 for seniors and $40 for young adults. Ages 5 and younger are free. For tickets, e-mail [email protected]. Visit utsavus.com.
*The Holy Apostles Pink Ribbon Angels will hold a dinner to benefit the Avon Foundation’s breast cancer research Thursday in L’Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie at The Arboretum, 100 W. Higgins Road, Suite Q-1, South Barrington. Seatings will start at 7 p.m. and reservations are recommended. For reservations, call 847-428-4783.
VOLUNTEERS
*The Kindness Connection will hold a work day to make projects for nonprofit organizations from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Wilmette Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road. All ages are welcome. There is a $5 fee per participant for materials. To register, visit thekindnessconnection.org.
*Volunteers are needed to help collect seed of native plants from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Meet at the Citizens for Conservation headquarters, 459 W. Illinois Highway 22, Lake Barrington, the white farmhouse with a silo across from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. Bring work gloves and dress for the weather. Call 847-382-7283.
Please send fundraisers and volunteer opportunities at least two weeks in advance to [email protected] or fax to 847-755-8930.