No-Shave November is a non-profit organization devoted to growing awareness about cancer and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education. In many cancer cases, patients lose their hair while going through treatment. Therefore, in No-Shave November, hair is embraced, no matter how wild or long it grows. The goal is that participants will save money on self-grooming, and instead donate to educate about cancer prevention. This web-based organization was started by a family who experienced the heartache of losing someone to colon cancer: their father, Matthew Hill. The proceeds from this program support the American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

At Morris Hills, the No-Shave November participants each pay $25 to enter into one of three categories: The Picasso: The Artfully Abstract Beard, This Beard Can’t Be Sidelined: The General Ambrose Burnside Beard and the Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beard-i-ful. The program started during the 2014-15 school year, and over the past three years participants at Morris Hills have raised approximately $1,500 for the American Cancer Society. In 2015, a new category was added to competition to allow male staff members who already had beards to compete.

This year, there are 18 participants: Mr. Toriello, Mr. Merle, Mr. Melvin, Mr. Haraka, Mr. Sylvester, Mr. Diaz, Mr. Hurley, Mr. Carrano, Mr. Bollette, Mr. Cappuccio, Mr. Schoeps, Mr. Devine, Mr. Cemelli, Mr. Mein, Mr. Hartsuiker, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Roman and Mr. Hilla. A link to vote will go out on November 30th, and all students, staff members, teachers and administrators will be invited to vote using their MHRD gmail accounts. Stay tuned, as the winners will be announced on Friday, December 2nd!