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Free Hair Cuts For Reading

Apr 29, 2016

By Laura Duncanson
Being a barber is about taking care of people and this barber in Iowa takes this quote to a whole other level. The small town of Dubuque, Iowa has been receiving a lot of media attention recently as local barber Courtney Holmes has given a whole new meaning to getting a haircut. He has been giving haircuts to local kids in exchange for them reading him a book.

Courtney Holmes is a 45 year old barber who recently moved from Chicago with his wife Sarah and two sons Jackson and Josiah. Upon moving to Dubuque, he joined the Black Man Coalition, which is a nonprofit organization that helps inner city African American youths prepare for college, jobs and life by giving them a sense of empowerment. Because of his busy schedule, he said he was not able to be as active in the group as he would have liked but told the coordinator of the group if there was anything he could do such as give out free haircuts please let him know. And who would have thought that tiny suggestion would have caused such a tremendous effect.

At the local Annual Back to School Bash where the Dubuque Black Men Coalition was volunteering, they had Mr. Holmes set up between 12 and 4 to give haircuts to the local kids in exchange for reading books. He told The Good News Notebook that he was so surprised about the response of the event; children from kindergarten all the way up to the middle school, read books from a nearby stall as well as the few he brought from home which he would read nightly to his own sons. He gave out 10-15 haircuts during that 4 hour period and had to give out his business card to the other children eagerly waiting to take him up on this offer. “The kids were so excited and had a lot of energy…everyone was motivating and encouraging each other to read…if any of the kids started having difficulty reading, I’d help them out as well” was one of the few things that excited Mr. Holmes about the whole experience.

Since the event there have been a lot of people donating books, backpacks and shirts to the movement. The owner of the salon he works at, Amanda Troutman, has also joined in by approving haircuts for reading in house on a monthly basis. He hopes his act is an encouragement to others and goes to nearby cities and countries at large. In the school system, there are kids that read below their grade level and this could be a way to help tackle this issue. He sais that it’s important to help the kids and help the parents.

He gives glory to God and is humbled just to be a willing servant to do His work. He wants our GNN readers to know whatever you do, do it from your heart. Just one kind gesture can have such a big response. His experience with this event personally, ‘felt like throwing a pebble in the pond to cause a big ripple.’ Thank you Mr. Holmes for being that pebble and we look forward to others taking the initiative as well.

Stephen Curry Thinking Of Others

Apr 25, 2016

Not only does Stephen Curry II play basketball like a boss, the Golden State Warriors point guard likes to use his celebrity to give people continents away a better shot at longevity. Were it not for him, a good number of African children and their families would contact malaria. Malaria; which comes with chills, fever and sweating in cycles; often has death riding on its coat tails. It comes from the bite of infected female mosquitoes.
In many cases, children die from this preventable disease. Curry had advocated for insecticide-treated bed nets, and made his own contributions toward that end. Such nets can keep infected mosquitoes out of beds and other sleeping areas.
Along with The United Nations Foundation, Rick Reilley founded the Nothing But Nets program. This initiative is the globe’s largest grassroots campaign in place to prevent mosquito-borne malaria from spreading in Africa. Statistics show that in Africa one child a minute succumbs to the disease. MVP Curry, sometimes referred to as Stephen, discovered that a mere $10 could substantially decrease the likelihood that someone under a net’s protection would be bitten by mosquitoes. In fact, Stephen has been a champion for this cause since he was a college student.

The official “Nothing But Net” website indicates that Curry birthed the idea of a three for three challenge; where he committed to send three bed nets for every three point shot he completed during the 2012 and 2013 season. The season was trumpeted as a banner year for him, as he made a record with 272 shots. This translated to 816 bed nets, or 816 families that received this protection.
He has not slowed down in his commitment to fuel the campaign to save lives and to eradicate malaria off the face of this earth.

World Malaria Day, which occurs on April 25th, is a day when a more intensified and collective focus is given toward the quest of raising donations of nets, money, and awareness of this-waving measure. On this day, there is a million nets pledge. Curry is active in that day of focus.
Image result for world malaria day
All throughout the year there is also the concerted effort to gather more of what’s referred to as “bzzzkill” participants. These are people who seek to influence their friends and family members to donate nets to the cause. In addition, they seek to have more voices lifted to Capital Hill to express concerns that everything be done to get nets into the African communities that desperately need nets and that those needing the inexpensive aid can’t wait. If it’s a positive thing, and it’s attached to providing nets for African families in mosquito-laden areas in Africa, Curry’s made sure he stays attached and active.

3 Things You Can Do:

1. Send a Net
They have a simple, proven solution to a deadly problem in Africa. For a family, a net can mean the difference between life and death. For only $10 dollars, you can protect a family and save a life.
2. Join Team Bzzzkill
Increase your impact by rallying your friends, family, and neighbors to send nets. You can use your talents to raise money by starting a fundraiser.
3. Advocate for Nets
Make sure your member of congress knows that the fight to end malaria is a priority for you. Raise awareness about the cause and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill.
For more information, to send nets, to donate and ally yourself with Curry and the United Nations with this cause, visit:
Source Nothing But Nets.net

The Stephen Curry Foundation
The Stephen Curry Foundation is a 501 (c)3 founded by Stephen.
Please make all tax deductible donations payable to the Stephen Curry Foundation and mail to the following address: Stephen Curry Foundation 7950 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 700N McLean, VA 22102