veterans

Free haircuts for veterans offered at check presentation event

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sport Clips Haircuts presented a check to the VFW Foundation for $1.3M toward veterans’ scholarships and offered free haircuts to veterans today. The donation event was held at VFW Post 7397 in Lenexa, Kansas, and marks the eighth year in a row of donating more than $1M for the Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero Scholarship program. Administered by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Help A Hero has grown to be the largest scholarship program of its kind, offering service members and veterans support for education often needed in post-military careers. In addition, we’re pleased to announce that 175 scholarships totaling nearly $800,000 were awarded by the VFW for the spring 2024 semester.

“It is important to us as a company to thank and support our veterans who have done so much for us. We understand that additional training and education are often needed by our veterans to have a successful civilian career, and we saw an opportunity to help with this. Our Help A Hero scholarships are one way Sport Clips team members, clients and product partners help us express our gratitude to them for protecting our freedoms. By helping provide for the future education and success of those who’ve served, we can make a meaningful difference in many of their lives and for their families,” said Gordon Logan, Air Force veteran, VFW Life member and founder and chairman of Sport Clips.

As the nation’s leading provider of men’s and boys’ haircare, veteran-founded Sport Clips began work with the VFW in 2013 to provide Help A Hero scholarships. To date, the program has awarded more than 2,900 scholarships totaling more than $13 million.

“We can’t thank Sport Clips team members, clients, and product partners for their kindness and generosity that goes much further than simply helping to ensure veterans transition home to start meaningful careers,” said VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento. “The support we receive to provide Help A Hero scholarships positively changes the lives of our service members, veterans and their families for decades to come.”

More than $150,000 of the donation this year was from Sport Clips store owners, while clients, individual supporters, and Sport Clips team members donated the most generous portion of money raised in stores and online. Sport Clips product partners Direct Beauty Express, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Nioxin, Sexy Hair, Gibs Grooming Actiiv, and American Crew also made substantial contributions.

The application period for fall 2024 Help A Hero Scholarships is open now through April 30 to receive up to $5,000 of assistance per semester, per family for service members and veterans in the rank of E-5 and below. To find out more, visit your local Sport Clips, SportClips.com/hero or vfw.org/Scholarship.

The largest scholarship program of its kind celebrates a decade of helping service members pursue education to transition to civilian careers. 

GEORGETOWN, Texas — To mark the 10th year of supporting veterans through Help A Hero Scholarships, Sport Clips Haircuts today launches its annual promotion to raise $1.7 million by Nov. 11. The campaign supports the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program, which provides funds for education for veterans and service members to transition to post-military civilian careers. Over the next five weeks, Sport Clips clients, team members, and franchisees can donate in-store at check-out or online with 100 percent of donations going toward veteran scholarships. Participating Sport Clips stores will also donate $2 from every hair care service provided on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and many locations will also offer free Veterans Day haircuts for veterans and active duty service members.

In 2013, a drawdown of troops prompted veteran-founded Sport Clips to step up to meet the need for education funds that extend beyond GI Bill benefits to more fully cover the costs service members often need to complete degrees and training after the military. Sport Clips Founder and Chairman Gordon Logan, a VFW Life member and Air Force veteran who flew C-130s in Southeast Asia, is the heart behind Help A Hero Scholarships, a program that has now become the largest of its kind.

“For Sport Clips, giving back, especially to our military community, has been a core component of our business. Our stylists are key to making this program a success, and they really demonstrate our overall commitment to honoring veterans because they drive this promotion at the store level and get our clients excited to make a donation,” Logan says. “As a part of our philanthropic work, we recognize most Americans want to support companies that give back. It is our honor to support those who serve our country through the Help A Hero Scholarship program as part of our overall dedication to providing Haircuts with Heart.”

“The costs of higher education continue to soar, so ensuring that our nation’s service members and veterans have the aid and support they need to be successful after their military career is over continues to be a top priority for the VFW,” said VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento. “Transitioning out of the military can be difficult, but with the help of Sport Clips and its patrons, we’re able to eliminate some of the stress that comes with student loan debt.”

To date, Help A Hero funds have supported more than 2,720 scholarships through the $12.3 million Sport Clips, its clients, stylists and product partners have donated to the VFW Foundation. In addition to in-store donations, you can also text “HERO” to 71777 for an easy, online giving option. Help A Hero scholarships range up to $5,000 per semester and help cover the cost of tuition and fees for military and service members with the rank of E-5 and below. Help A Hero scholarships are awarded to qualified veterans across all branches of the military by sending the funds directly to the college or technical school of their choice. To apply for and learn more about how these scholarships are impacting the lives of veterans, visit SportClips.com/Hero.

About The Veterans of Foreign Wars
About the VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.4 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information, or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.

SOURCE Sport Clips Haircuts

FORT WORTH, Texas — Thirty years and growing, Sport Clips Haircuts National Huddle this year celebrated the franchise’s talented stylists across the country and in Canada, as well as the professionals who support the system’s 1,900 locations. With 3,000 team members on site for the “Pro in You”-themed event, President and CEO Edward Logan welcomed the crowd to Sport Clips’ home state of Texas, congratulating them on being a part of some of the company’s most successful years to date.

“Seeing the vision our family had come to life for Sport Clips when it was founded by Gordon and Bettye Logan in 1993 is especially gratifying as their son and now as president and CEO of what has grown into one of the top U.S.-based franchises,” Edward says. “More than 13,000 stylists have found rewarding careers in locally- and company-owned Sport Clips locations where they are the creative rock stars who deliver on our brand promise of a championship haircut experience day in and day out. As the franchise investment and employer of choice for the group that’s celebrating here this week, we chose the theme ‘Pro in You’ to recognize their talent and contribution to our 30-year-young, growing haircare business.”

Additional Huddle news included:

• Sport Clips created and offered a first-of-its-kind Sober Pros opportunity in response to a stylist’s emotional journey to sobriety shared at last year’s Huddle. The sober celebration is just part of a comprehensive umbrella of assistance the franchise has rolled out this past year that includes 24-7/365 SupportLinc counseling services as well as the team member recognition platform THNKS.
• Sport Clips is increasing its in-person training when other systems are teaching advanced haircutting techniques online. To make this professional advancement and training possible, Sport Clips has a team of more than 100 coaches as well as its platform performance Artistic Team and 39 training centers in the U.S.
• Sport Clips continues to give back locally and nationally through its Haircuts with Heart programs. Last year, Sport Clips, its clients, and product partners reached a $13M milestone in donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation (VFW) to fund “VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarships” by fundraising and donating $1.5 million in 2022. This year’s fundraising will kick off in October.
• A first-ever Huddle blood drive was staged at the event by the American Red Cross, one of Sport Clips philanthropic partners.
• It was announced at Huddle that the first Sport Clips’ in-store fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s childhood cancer research raised $166,000 last month for a total of $2.86 million contributed to the organization since the partnership began in 2016.
• Sport Clips’ sponsored Dream Flights has been a partner philanthropy for a decade and will hit 6,000 flights in six restored Stearman biplanes for veterans and their spouses who are residents in senior living facilities.
• Sport Clips was among the first franchises to create a relief fund to provide funds for team members in financial need. To date, the McGlone Gozur Fund has distributed more than $4.7M in funds to 800+ team members employed by individually owned franchises or corporate stores.

Top awards at this year’s Huddle went to:

• Area Developers of the Year – David and Becky Weseman – Omaha, NE; David and Becky operate three stores in Colorado and Nebraska, and cover Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, & Wyoming as Area Developers.
• Area Manager of the Year – Laura Storrjohan – St. Louis, MO
• Manager of the Year – Olivia Bock – Boise, ID
• Team Leader of the Year – Patrick Hardy, Raleigh, NC and Amanda Mazzone, Williamstown, NJ
• Coach of the Year – Maria Jones, Pittsburgh, PA
• Logan Trophy – Sport Clips’ Highest Honor – Jared Lee and Val Hill of Chandler, AZ. They own 65 stores in Arizona, Oregon, Utah and Washington, and their winning store is in Queen Creek, AZ.

VFW-administered program awards record number of scholarships.

HOUSTON — Sport Clips Haircuts held an event at VFW Post 8790 today to offer free haircuts to veterans and present a check to the VFW Foundation for $1.5M toward veterans’ scholarships. This marks the sixth year in a row that Sport Clips has donated at least $1M to the Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero Scholarship program. Administered by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to provide scholarships for service members and veterans, the program has grown to become the largest of its kind. Through the program, VFW awarded 196 scholarships totaling $900,000 for the current 2023 spring semester today, bringing the total scholarships awarded to 2,600.

As the nation’s leading provider of men’s and boys’ haircare, veteran-founded Sport Clips began work with the VFW in 2013 to offer Help A Hero Scholarships to help military veterans prepare for civilian careers that often require additional college, graduate, and technical degrees and training. Since the creation of the program, Sport Clips has donated nearly $13 million to the “Help A Hero Scholarship” program.

“We owe our veterans and their families a debt of gratitude for their service. By helping ease the financial burden that often comes with reentering the civilian workforce, Sport Clips team members, clients, and product partners join us in saying ‘thank you’ to those who have served our country,” says Gordon Logan, Air Force veteran, VFW Life member, and founder and chairman of Sport Clips. “Over the past ten years, the Help A Hero program has become a real difference-maker in the lives of so many veterans who have benefited from these scholarships and who are now successfully engaged in their civilian careers.”

“The VFW is amazed at the generosity of Sport Clips clients, its team members and its partners,” said Dan West, VFW adjutant general. “It is their kindness and eagerness to support America’s veterans that makes this scholarship program possible. And it brings me great pride to announce that the spring 2023 semester will be our biggest awarded semester to date with $900,000 in scholarships being awarded to nearly 200 student veterans. We couldn’t have achieved this feat without Sport Clips and are excited to see the wide-reaching impact this has on the families of America’s best.”

More than $143,000 of the donation total this year came from Sport Clips franchisees, with nearly half of that coming directly from haircut proceeds on Veterans Day, while Sport Clips clients donated the most generous portion of money raised in stores and online. Sport Clips partners Direct Beauty Express, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Nioxin, Sexy Hair, Gibs Grooming, Actiiv, and American Crew also made substantial contributions.

The application period for fall 2023 Help A Hero Scholarships is open now through April 30 to receive up to $5,000 of assistance per semester, per family for service members and veterans in the rank of E-5 and below. To find out more, visit your local Sport Clips, SportClips.com/hero or VFW.org/Scholarship.

About The Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.5 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information, or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.

Founder & Veteran Gordon Logan Says Sport Clips/VFW Scholarship Has Raised $11.4 Million for Thousands of Vets to Date.

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Sport Clips Haircuts, a national franchise with almost 1,900 locations, is kicking off its annual scholarship fundraising drive for veterans. The campaign will take place for the five weeks leading up to Saturday, November 12, 2022.

WHO: Sport Clips’ Founder and CEO Gordon B. Logan, an Air Force C-130 pilot who flew missions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, created the unique scholarship in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for America’s veterans in need of financial support.

WHAT: Started in 2013, the “Help A Hero” scholarship initiative has grown to the largest of its kind and has raised $11.4 million to provide 2,400 scholarships to veterans in need from all branches of military service.  Last year, Logan and his Sport Clips team raised $1.55 million for the program, and this year’s goal is $1.7M.

With college tuition inflation up 8% and veterans’ education benefits stretched thin, the Help A Hero Scholarship gives veterans and their families some extra help to reach their educational goals.

WHEN: The kickoff takes place this week with a radio interview by Gordon Logan on the National Defense Radio Network (airing Oct. 15-16,) store rallies, and meetings with key stakeholders. (Mr. Logan is available for media interviews by request to inquiry@fedewaconsulting.com or 202.365.6936.)

WHERE: Participating Sport Clips stores across the U.S. will donate $2 from every hair care service provided on Veterans Day, November 11, to the program. Many participating Sport Clips locations will also offer free Veterans Day haircuts for those with military I.D. You can also donate by texting to “HERO” to 71777.

WHY: Mr. Logan’s personal story, from U.S. Air Force pilot to Wharton/MIT graduate, successful franchisor in all 50 states + Canada, and recognition of being “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the International Franchise Association (IFA) is most compelling. On top of it all, he believes in giving back to the men and women who serve in uniform through the “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program.

Custom blend of organics freshens service that’s been a client-favorite for almost two decades.

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Sport Clips Haircuts’ client-favorite MVP Experience that includes a steamed towel, massaging shampoo, neck and shoulder treatment, and precision haircut is getting a fresh, new update with a custom-blended proprietary scent. Throughout the franchise’s almost 1,900 locations, America’s most relaxing haircut experience now includes organic ingredients chamomile, lavehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggNV8KAx820&feature=youtu.bender, and eucalyptus infused into a hot steamed towel that’s gently applied to the face after the shampoo and prior to the haircut.

“When our clients come in, we’ve found that even if they’re in a hurry, they want to feel relaxed while they’re getting a haircut,” says Edward Logan, Sport Clips CEO and president. “We introduced the MVP service in 2005, 12 years after we opened our first store in 1993. Through years of perfecting the processes in becoming the pros in men’s hair, we’ve found the addition of ‘scent’ enhances the client experience and allows the relaxation to begin soon after they walk in the door.”

Consumer research shows scent can have a significant impact on the client experience and like many hotel properties and high-end stores, the team at Sport Clips developed this proprietary formula with two things in mind – clients’ overall experience along with ease of use and application by professionally trained stylists.

What’s included in the updated MVP Experience:

• Sport Clips worked with Zero Trace, a company dedicated to using plant-based products, to develop the all-natural, proprietary scent. It is a combination of chamomile as an ancient medicinal with a great scent; lavender, known to improve circulation; and eucalyptus, which has a rich history as a fragrance; formulated to enhance relaxation. For Sport Clips’ use, it has been packaged in a new type of stable delivery system that allows it to arrive at the stores ready for use.
• The new scent was tested in more than 50 stores and announced to franchisees, store managers, and stylists system-wide in May 2022.
• Extensive training around the updated scent and application process preceded this month’s introduction.

In a survey of clients who participated in the MVP test, 82 percent rated the MVP with new scent as better than the original MVP. Sport Clips is planning an extended roll out of the upgraded service with advertising and promotions planned over the next nine months. The new scent is also part of the Ultimate MVP service (formerly the Double MVP), which features double the hot steamed towel and neck and shoulder treatment. More information is available by visiting SportClipsHaircuts.com.

Video here:  SportClipsHaircutsMVPExperience-BetterThanEver

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — “Dare to Be” was the theme for the annual Sport Clips Haircuts National Huddle, challenging franchisees and team members to strive for greatness. President and CEO Edward Logan celebrated significant company milestones at the gathering in Nashville.

“The Sport Clips brand is strong and the excitement for the future is even stronger. We were thrilled to have three thousand franchisees, stylists, support team members and supplier partners gathered in Nashville, with everyone focused on serving our clients as the pros in men’s hair,” says Edward Logan, Sport Clips CEO and president. “The Huddle theme of ‘Dare to Be’ is defined by our enhanced training for stylists, advancements in our technology to better serve our clients and a renewed commitment to philanthropy to position Sport Clips as the employer, franchise opportunity and charitable partner of choice now and in the future.”

News of note from the Sport Clips Huddle:

• Sport Clips is the only national haircare service provider with more locations now than in 2019 and through consistent growth each year since 1995 – even during the pandemic year of 2020 and the recovery year of 2021 – is on track to have its highest number of store openings since 2018.
• 93.9 percent of recent clients surveyed answered that Sport Clips provided “a better male haircut.” Sport Clips also ranked highest as a brand they would recommend and the best visit experience.
• Sport Clips increased its in-person as well as virtual training for professional stylists and barbers with more than 100 coaches and 64 training centers in the U.S.
• The Sport Clips signature MVP Haircut Experience will receive an upgrade this summer and is now part of extensive training for more than 12,000 stylists throughout the system.
• Franchisees entering the system are coming from the most diverse backgrounds to date, with an increase in veteran franchisees since 2020, who now represent 12 percent of the system.
• CEO Edward Logan was joined by Chairman and Founder Gordon Logan and 17 others who had their heads shaved as a show of the renewed commitment to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, with another $1M donation over the next three years.
• Sport Clips, its clients, and product partners reached a $10M milestone in donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation (VFW) to fund “VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarships” by fundraising and donating $1.5 million in 2021.This year’s fundraising will kick off in October.
• As the primary sponsor, Sport Clips helped Dream Flights complete its 2021 “Operation September Freedom,” mission to fly nearly 1,000 WWII veterans and spouses in open cockpit Stearman biplanes with plans to fly 1,000 more veterans in the year ahead.

Top awards at this year’s Huddle went to:

• Area Developer of the Year – Mark & Jan Mansfield – Plano, TX; Mark and Jan operate five stores in Texas and cover the northern half of Texas and most of New Mexico as Area Developers.
• Area Manager of the Year – Sandy Palmer – Omaha, NE
• Manager of the Year – Stephanie Elifritz – Ankeny, IA
• Team Leader of the Year – Chris Bauman – Based in Riverdale, UT. He owns seven locations in UT.
• Coach of the Year – Jenny Smith – Dallas, TX
• Logan Trophy – Sport Clips’ Highest Honor – Brad & Carla Whitt, Lee’s Summit, MO. This is the second consecutive year for them to receive this honor. They own stores in MO, KS, and SD, and their winning store is in Liberty, MO.