This year Wahl expanded its one-of-a-kind program to Houston, now providing barber school students in five under-resourced communities with holistic support, including barber college scholarships, local barber mentors, dedicated tutoring to pass their state licensing exams, transportation stipends, and more.
Wahl Professional, the leader in professional and home grooming electric hair clippers, trimmers and shavers, recently held celebratory events in St. Louis and Houston, bringing together barber professionals, local leaders, and aspiring barbers. The purpose of these gatherings was to commemorate the awarding of Wahl Professional’s Fade It Forward® scholarships to new barber students. The Wahl Fade It Forward® program is renowned as the most extensive philanthropic initiative in the barber industry. Its primary goal is to alleviate the financial burdens that hinder barber students from achieving their dreams of becoming professional barbers. Since its launch in 2018, The Wahl Fade It Forward® program has granted nearly $500,000 in scholarships and support to more than 30 barber students in Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, San Diego, and Houston.
This year marked the expansion of the Wahl Fade It Forward® program to Houston for the first time. Wahl Professional collaborated with Franklin Institute to award a scholarship to Jeremy Adams and joined forces with Texas Barber College to provide scholarships to Warren Duckworth and Ronald Shepherd. In St. Louis, Wahl Professional partnered with St. Charles Barber College to award Michael Johnson a Wahl Fade It Forward® scholarship. These new students are expected to complete their mentorship and graduate from barber college later this year.
Garland “G Whiz” Fox, a Wahl Professional educator, presented the scholarships in Houston and shared his personal connection to the journey of the Wahl Fade It Forward® winners. He expressed, “We read your stories. We know that some applicants are homeless, and they aren’t sure how they are gonna feed their kids. That was me. Barbering changed my life. If it can work for me, it can work for anybody.” Fox emphasized that each recipient should take pride in successfully navigating the rigorous selection process, stating, “The application process is not easy. We dissect every word you say to us, and we research you on social media. We take that into consideration because you all represent Wahl now. You’re one of us. It’s our commitment to you – we are going to be here for you.”
Beyond providing scholarships for barber school, the Wahl Fade It Forward® program offers personalized tutoring to help students pass their state licensing exams. It also connects them with social services if needed. Additionally, the program offers one-on-one mentorships with local professional barbers who are community role models to help students understand how to navigate the business world as a professional. During the mentorship, students learn essential skills such as building a client base, assisting in daily shop operations, and fostering professional relationships with colleagues.
Julie Gustafson, Senior Manager of Marketing at Wahl Professional, commented on the unique aspects of the Wahl Fade It Forward® program, stating, “Giving these students layers of support and mentorship beyond just paying for their barber school education is what makes the Wahl Fade It Forward® program special. Students are paired with barber mentors who teach them how to conduct themselves professionally, how to build their business, and how to ‘Fade It Forward’ to the next person who may need a helping hand like they did, and eventually be a leader in their own barbering community.”
The success of the Wahl Fade It Forward® program serves as a testament to the transformative power of barbering and the dedication of Wahl Professional to invest in the future of aspiring barbers. By providing comprehensive support, mentorship, and scholarships, Wahl Professional is empowering these students to overcome obstacles, achieve their dreams, and become leaders in the barbering community. As the program continues to expand its reach, Wahl Professional remains committed to making a lasting impact and fostering a brighter future for the next generation of barbers. More information can be found at www.wahlpro.com/fade-it-forward.
About Wahl Professional
Since 1919, with the invention of the first practical electric hair clipper, Wahl Clipper Corporation has been the leader in the professional and home grooming categories. Today, with over 3,500 employees worldwide, Wahl is proud to carry forward the tradition of innovation and superior customer service that was created by Leo J. Wahl. Headquartered in Sterling, Illinois, Wahl distributes to 176 countries and has eight global manufacturing facilities as well as 25 sales offices. At Wahl, we are proud of our heritage of excellence as well as our remarkable list of groundbreaking innovations for the present and future for the global market. Visit http://www.wahlpro.com/ for more details.