Thursday, October 11, 2007

DO NOT DOUBT THE POWER OF THE MUSTACHE

Six weeks.
Thirty-one men, one woman, and one toddler.
$15,000.
One giant flock of some mean lookin’ mustaches.


The Second Annual Mustache-a-Thon – Son of ‘Stache has drawn to a close, the last hours a veritable whirlwind of whiskers, donations, and passionate mustache devotion. Mustache HQ was hit – and hit hard – by a maelstrom of last-minute donations and a Mustache Wrap Party to end all wrap parties.


Now that we’ve had a chance to catch our breath, count the donations, and measure the event’s Selleckiness, we have some very thrilling information to impart.


The question dangling on everyone’s mustache is “Did we meet our $15,000 goal?”


I am happy to report that, as of Monday, 10-09-07, we have raised:

$15,200

including cash in hand, employer matching, and outstanding pledges! That’s $5,200 more than last year. We received more individual donations and media interest than last year – the word definitely spread like a bad Fu Manchu.


Thank you to all of our donors, mustache growers, and mustache teammates. We couldn’t have done it without you.


If you haven’t yet made a donation – never fear! We will continue to accept donations until we are sure that mustaches have gained a significant foothold in the world of fundraising.


Mustache Wrap Party!

A Sellecktion of delicious mustache themed food! Yumm!

Special suprise guest, The Stranger's Party Crasher.

Our hero.

Jessixa draws Brad Wilke and his spectacular mustache.

Pin the Mustache on Tom Selleck - a game best left to adults.

The rockin' sounds of C'mon C'mon and fellow mustacheer Sean Bates. See C'mon C'mon for yourself on October 27th, at Chop Suey for Hallowqueen - A Night of Queen Covers. Check out www.chopsuey.com or http://www.myspace.com/cmoncmonband for more info

The Mustache Wrap Party featured “Pin the ‘Stache on Tom Selleck” (congrats to master pinner Sam Smith), mustache caricatures by Jessixa, an assortment of mustache movies including “Three Men and a Baby,” “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” and “Smokey and the Bandit," mustache-themed food, the fine music of C'mon C'mon, a Mustache Farmers Power Point presentation, and an awards ceremony that made the Oscars look like the Daytime Emmys.


Awards included:


BEST LITTLE MUSTACHE THAT COULD – Blaire Notrica

BEST CELEBRITY MUSTACHE (four-way tie)

  • Doug Woodbury (Skynard roadie and Hulk Hulgan)
  • Drew Johnson (William Faulkner)
  • Ben Busby-Collins (Super Mario and Eric Estrada)
  • Christopher Morris (Vincent Price and Errol Flynn)

BEST OVERALL MUSTACHE – Jon Allred

MOST MONEY RAISED (Cash in hand) – Tim Lloyd and Julia Dekovich - $1085!

In addition to raising the most money and growing the best mustache, this year’s farmers were attempting to raise more money than Mr. Geoduck. Despite being a fictional character, and a rather unpleasant one at that, he managed to raise $1014. The two growers to raise more (cash in-hand) were Brock Grubb ($1050) and Tim Lloyd.

Special thanks to: Mustache Mistress Rebecca Brinson, Mustache Photographer Ben Blum, Leigh Bezezekoff (who was fundraising for five mustache farmers), and our sponsors The Pig ‘N’ Whistle, Full Sail, Scarecrow Video, Archie McPhee, and Ballard Organics.

(From left to right) Mustache Mistress Rebecca Brinson, Best Celebrity Look-a-Like Doug Woodbury, Best Overall Mustache Jon Allred, Best Little Mustache That Could Blaire Notrica, and Mustache HQ Secret Agent Justin Allan.
Mustache HQ reviews and approves Best Overall Mustache winner Jon Allred.

The Mustache Madness Just Doesn’t Stop!

In early December, 826 Seattle will benefit from the generosity of the organizers of the Second Annual Mustache Bash. Last year’s bash was held at the Rendezvous in Belltown, though details about this year’s bash are still forthcoming. Keep your eyes trained to this spot for more information – and start your mustaches a-growing now. As the farmers of the A-Thon will tell you, a well-coiffed ‘stache takes a fair amount of time and devotion.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

WEEK 6 - The Final 'Stache-Down

Mr Geoduck - Week 6
Mr. Geoduck

Do you love 826 Seattle? Do you think kids are the future? Do you understand the importance of writing and learning? Do you believe in do-goodery?


If you do, and you want to support 826 Seattle but don't know any of the mustache farmers listed below, donate to Mr. Geoduck's mustache!


Mr. Geoduck is the cantankerous publishing magnate who owns Justa Geoduck Publishing Co. and leads school kids on the wild Mr. Geoduck Publishing Fieldtrip. He is grumpy and ill tempered, but his heart is in the right place. A $20 donation sure would lift his spirts!

Adam Cox - Week 6
Adam Cox
Adam Spencer - Week 6
Adam Spencer
Andrew Dempsey - Week 6
Andew Dempsey
Ben Busby-Collins - Week 6
Ben Busby-Collins
Blaire Notrica - Week 5
Blaire Notrica
Brad Wilke - Week 6
Brad Wilke
and Elizabeth Duffell
Brendan Kiley - Week 5
Brendan Kiley
Brock Grubb - Week 4
Brock Grubb
Chris Morris - Week 3
Christopher Morris and
Manuela Insixiengmay
Cy Delgado - Week 6
Cy Delgado
Dan Baumfeld - Week 6
Dan Baumfeld
Team Brotherton Cockburn - Week 6
Team Brotherton-Cockburn
David Newman - Week 6
David Newman
Doug Woodbury - Week 6
Doug Woodbury and
Rebecca Brinson
Drew Johnson - Week 6
Drew Johnson
Eric Delfel - Week 6
Eric Delfel
Frederick Stivers - Week 4
Frederick Stivers
Joel Ballezza - Week 6
Joel Ballezza
John Duffell - Week 6
John Duffell
John Huddlestun - Week 5
John R. Huddlestun
Jon Allred - Week 6
Jon and Alex Allred
Justin Allan - Week 6
Justin Allan
Martin Cron - Week 6
Martin Cron
Michael Brotherton - Week 5
Michael Brotherton
Reed Hutchinson - Week 6
Reed Hutchinson
Robert Iff - Week 6
Robert Iff
Sam Smith - Week 6
Sam Smith and
Alice Pedersen
Scoop Jones - Week 6
Scoop Jones
Sean Bates - Week 4
Sean Bates
Shawn Foster - Week 6
Shawn Foster and
Jen Koogler
Tim Lloyd - Week 6
Tim Lloyd and
Julie Dekovich
Tom McDonald - Week 6
Tom McDonald and
Meredith
Willow Emerson - Week 6
Willow and
Kevin Emerson

We are down to the last three days of the Second Annual Mustache-A-Thon – Son of ‘Stache. The sense of relief is palpable, the excitement electric in the air. Donations are rolling in faster than we can count!


On October 4th, at 4 PM, 826 Seattle Executive Director Teri Hein and Mustache Farmer Brad Wilke will be on Komo 4 News, talking about the Mustache-A-Thon. Look for it!


To all Mustache Farmers, Sponsors, Donors, Cheerleaders, and Well-Wishers:
Thank you!
Thank you for leasing us your upper lip!
Thank you for the donations!
Thank you for your humor, excitement and Selleckiness!


UPDATE: As of 2:30 PM on October 4, we passed the $10,000 mark.


Yes – you read that right - $10,000. The power of the ‘stache must not be underestimated.




A curious thing has occurred over the past six weeks. I dream about mustaches. I find myself mining the web for images of mustaches. I see celebrities with mustaches and I admire their daring fashion sense and long to be like them. I peruse the men’s grooming section of the drug store longer than I used to.


I think I have become a fan of mustaches.


I see mustaches everywhere, and often compare the ‘staches of my friends with the ‘staches on TV. Lo’ and behold, several of our Mustache Farmers look curiously like famous men. With mustaches.


Coincidence? Or MUSTACHES SEPARATED AT BIRTH?


Mustaches Separated at Birth ONE

 

Mustaches Separated at Birth TWO

 

Mustaches Separated at Birth THREE

 

Mustaches Separated at Birth FOUR

 

Mustaches Separated at Birth FIVE

 

Mustaches Separated at Birth SIX