Within a month of planning what was expected to be a small event, PJ Tatano’s No Hair, Don’t Care tripled in the expected outcome.
Yesterday, the first No Hair, Don’t Care took place at Evolve Studio, 326 W. Beaver Ave. No Hair, Don’t Care was created by Tatano (freshman-petroleum engineering) to raise money for Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Each participant of No Hair, Don’t Care pays $10 for a sweatband and a haircut. The haircuts range from completely shaven to FTK shaved on the side to a shaved diamond.
The event raised nearly $400.
Tatano was inspired by a bookmark with a picture of Josh Sundquist, a paralympic skier who went through chemotherapy, as a child with his friends who shaved their head to show support, Tatano said.
With pop music beating softly in the background, the sound of hair buzzers and chatter filled Evolve Studio as students adorned in their colorful THON and Penn State clothing packed into the front of the hair salon. The constant flow of students was unyielding.
Originally expecting only around 20 participants for the first No Hair, Don’t Care, Tatano was surprised by the nearly-100 participants that showed up to shave their heads.
“Things really spiked after I met with Coach Chambers,” Tatano (freshman-petroleum engineering) said.
Last week, Men’s Basketball Coach Patrick Chambers shaved his head for No Hair, Don’t Care and yesterday announced on B94.5 that for every student that attends Thursday basketball game he would donate $10 to THON, Tatano said.
Men’s basketball marketing coordinator David Caporaletti and two of the basketball players, Kevin Montminy and Pat Ackerman, shaved their head at the beginning of the event, Tatano said.
Tatano said earlier that day, he also met with Men’s Volleyball Coach Mark Pavlik ,who bought a No Hair, Don’t Care sweatband to support the cause.
Once participants of No Hair, Don’t Care walked in, a “before picture” was taken with a sign that said “I THON for…” then after having their head shaven an “after photo” was taken with their reason for being involved written on a white board. The photos are to be posted on the No Hair, Don’t Care Facebook page, Tatano said
Tatano’s committee and organizations helped him check people into the studio and pass out the sweatbands.
On the same Rules and Regulations committee as Tatano, Bethany Shirilla said everyone was excited and proud of Tatano since they witnessed his motivation.
Knowing about the event from a friend, Connor Sease (freshman-psychology) said he was impressed when he heard of Coach Chambers being involved.
Tom Campuzano said he figured since he was going to shave his head anyway to shave it at the event.
“So much solidarity,” Campuzano (sophomore-supply chain) said, “We are actually rallying behind this cause both emotionally and physically.”
After seeing the diamonds shaved in people’s hair last, Brandon Shoup had already wanted to shave his head for this year’s THON.
Shoup (sophomore-marketing) said he can see the event growing every year since the event shows the families the commitment and support students have for the families.
“[People are going] see how big of a support system Penn State is not just financially but also emotionally,” Shirilla (sophomore-biology) said.
