Hairdressers Unlocking Hope Brings Families Home for the Holidays

On Sunday, November 4, ten families who lost their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina received the best holiday gift ever: keys to their brand-new houses. After a year of energy, passion, and commitment, the Hairdressers Unlocking Hope campaign, spearheaded by hair fashion pioneer Vidal Sassoon and behindthechair.com founder Mary Rector Gable, raised over $2 million to build more than 20 homes for Katrina victims.

Paul Mitchell Cosmetology Schools' Future Professionals adopted the campaign as one of three organizations benefiting from their annual three-month FUNraising drive. The schools raised enough money to build two homes in St. Tammany Parish, at a cost of $85,000 apiece.

In October, two teams from Paul Mitchell Schools traveled to Louisiana to take part in the build and dedication ceremony. Team members included 20–30 Future Professionals from the Vanguard College – Paul Mitchell Partner Schools in Slidell and Baton Rouge, plus school owners, staff members, and graduates from schools across the country.

Anjanay Lindsey and her children Marcel and Joshlyn will be moving into one of the Paul Mitchell School homes. They lost their house the day Katrina struck and spent more than two years living with friends and relatives, and in hotels and trailers. "When the hurricane hit," Anjanay remembers, "a tree fell on our house and it filled with eight feet of water. We moved into a trailer and it was so cold. My daughter is blind—it was such a hard winter. But this house is beautiful! My daughter is going to love it!"

School owner Tina Black said, "When the tragedy happened in Louisiana last year I felt helpless. When I walked into that subdivision and saw 18 homes built, one of which Paul Mitchell Schools were responsible for, I was full of incredible happiness."