Mustache Sponsors Donate Funds

P.S. 131 teachers Charlie Bunshaft and Kevin Gole found a different way to give back this year - by growing mustaches.
The organization, Mustaches for Kids, was founded in 1999 and has chapters throughout the United States and in Canada. In order to raise funds, participants grow a mustache for about a four-week period and get people to sponsor them.
Some of Gole’s friends, who are teachers on Long Island or work for the Board of Education, became involved with the Long Island chapter of Mustaches for Kids and recruited Gole to participate. As soon as he told Bunshaft what he was doing, Bunshaft also signed on take part in it. The Long Island chapter is raising money for the Pediatric Free Care Fund at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Gole, a resident of Long Beach is a computer teacher at P.S. 121, which is located in Jamaica. He has been at the school for seven years. Syosset resident Bunshaft is a third grade teacher at the school and has been there for six years.
Although they have at times grown full beards, they said that they have never had just a mustache.
“I thought it was funny so I decided to do it right away,” Gole said.
Gole said that it didn’t take much persuading at to get Bunshaft involved.
“It’s fun. It’s good to keep things fun,” Bunshaft said. “My family has a long history of cancer issues and problems so when Kevin told me that’s what was involved, I had no problem getting involved.”
Bunshaft said that people became curious as they saw the two with the mustaches and that it was an effective way to get people’s attention. Gole and Bunshaft said that their students have definitely noticed the mustaches.
“They’re all aware and involved and want to know what we’re up to,” Bunshaft said.
By doing a project such as this, Gole said that they are leading by example and showing their students that it is important to give back to those who are less fortunate. Bunshaft added that “a lot of people doing a little bit can accomplish a lot.”
P.S. 131 already has a history of giving back. On an annual basis, the school participates in the penny harvest and food drives.
“I didn’t expect just about every person in the school to pledge money, which was nice,” Gole said of the support for Mustaches for Kids. “It was a better response than I thought.
At the conclusion of their four weeks, Gole and Bunshaft had raised $1,250. The more than 40 people who participated in the Long Island Chapter event raised $17,000.
“I never thought a mustache could raise money,” Bunshaft said. He also said, “I would do it again. I think it’s an easy way to get a message out.”
Gole and Bunshaft are still collecting donations for Mustaches for Kids. To make one, contact them at P.S. 131 by calling the school at 718-739-4229.
For more information on Mustaches for Kids, visit www.mustachesforkids.org or the Long Island Chapter’s website at www.m4kli.org.