Mitch Willaman, Mathew Pulley, Steve Jones and Jason Stover at North Webster Elementary School participated in the Wawasee Community School Corporation’s No Shave November last year to help raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Before you begin to wonder why the male staff members in the Wawasee Community School Corporation are looking a bit more scruffy than usual, just glance at the calendar page. It’s November. Which means, it’s No Shave November.

For a second year, WCS men are putting down their razors in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The idea of the NSN movement is men grow out their beards for the entire month, something many professionals have never done, to bring awareness to the cause.

Any WCS staff member (male or female) can also pay $1 per day in November to wear blue jeans to school. These funds also go to the CFF.

As a corporation, over $3,500 was raised during last year’s NSN, with 20 men participating in the beard growing, and over 100 staff members paying to wear blue jeans.

“It was so neat to see our staff band together for such an awesome cause. We had men who had never dreamed of growing a beard put the razors away for a month to support a goofy idea of mine,” said Jace Stewart, fifth grade teacher at Syracuse Elementary who brought NSN to Wawasee schools last year.

Stewart explained four years ago, a good friend and her husband, Sean and Laura (Karns) Clem, had their first child, Ethan, who was born with cystic fibrosis.

“Together, we’re all fighting to find a cure so Ethan can continue to live a healthy life as big brother to Liam, and go on to do all the things a boy and young man should be able to do. Now, as we learn more about the disease, we are also finding many others in the community who have a connection to CF. Wawasee has embraced this cause, and I cannot thank our wonderful staff enough for all their support.”

This year’s NSN goal is for each building to raise $1,000, in order to reach a corporation-wide goal of $5,000.

Although this is a WCS initiative, community members are also welcome and encouraged to join in on the fun. The buy-in for growing a beard is $10, but any donation is welcome.

“So far, we have we have eight men signed up at Syracuse Elementary School, and many more throughout the corporation. I would say we are well over the 20 we had last year,” said Stewart.

“Some guys are clean shaven to start the month, while others are letting their beards just get fuller and bushier. Whatever and however people want to join in is great.”

To participate in Wawasee’s NSN, donations can be dropped off at any school (made payable to CFF-Indiana Chapter) or online.

Wawasee’s No Shave November to Fight Cystic Fibrosis is also on Facebook.