Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Fifth-Grader Donates Hair to Charity, Wants to Make It Easier for Others

By Howard Ludwig | January 28, 2016 5:36am
 Catie Schultz, 10, of Morgan Park cut off 13 inches of her hair Sunday with the intent of donating her strawberry locks to Wigs for Kids. The charity creates custom wigs for children battling cancer or other health issues that result in hair loss.
Catie Schultz
View Full Caption

MORGAN PARK — Catie Schultz cut off 13 inches of her strawberry hair Sunday and plans to donate it to Wigs for Kids.

Catie, a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Clissold Elementary School, is patiently waiting for the eight ponytails of her thick hair to fully dry before shipping them to the Westlake, Ohio-based charity.

Meanwhile, the Morgan Park girl is spreading the word about the group that provides free wigs to children suffering from cancer treatment, Alopecia, serious burns other health issues that result in hair loss.

"We really love that the goal is to improve kids' self-esteem," said Susie Schultz, Catie's mom.

Catie will receive a Girl Scout badge for her efforts and is encouraging others in Troop 20075 to donate hair as well as cash to the charity that started in 1981. The Schutzes plan to mail Catie's hair to Wigs for Kids later this week along with a monetary donation.

Catie had been growing her hair for more than two years with the intent of donating her uniquely-colored locks to some sort of charity. She and her mom soon settled on Wigs for Kids because of its work with children and commitment to giving away the custom wigs for free, Susie Schultz said Tuesday.

It takes 20-30 ponytails like the ones Catie donated to make a single wig, meaning Catie's hair will be combined with others to make a wig that costs $1,800, according the to charity's website.

Schultz was disheartened to learn that the nearest salon affiliated with Wigs for Kids was in the south suburbs or Downtown. She said other salons are affiliated with similar charities but none directly with Wigs for Kids.

The mother-daughter duo ended up having Catie's hair trimmed at Hair Cuttery in nearby Merrionette Park. A family friend, Joanne Nelson of Mount Greenwood, works at the suburban salon and collected the hair.

"We would love for more salons to know about it," said Susie Schultz, who is spreading the word about the charity on social media and among friends in the hopes that salons on the Far Southwest Side sign on as affiliates.

Meanwhile, Catie said she likes her new look, which shocked at least one of her teachers on Monday morning.

"She was like, 'Holy Smokes!' And then she said I look like an American Girl doll," Catie said.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: