Granite Telecommunications Employees Shave Heads for Charity

April 13, 2017 5:32 pm

By: Tim Studebaker

LINCOLN, R.I. – Granite Telecommunications in Lincoln gives its employees and others a chance to give to charity just by having their heads shaved by the barbers from Classic Man Barbershop in Cranston. It’s a yearly event they call "Saving by Shaving," and it’s in its 4th year.

Paul Goodwin, Regional Vice President of Sales for Granite says, "It started off on a dare where somebody at Granite up at Corporate had a very thick beard. The owner said ‘I will donate $5,000 to charity if you shave that off.’"

Now, all of their offices participate, including their Quincy office, where some big names showed up, like Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Granite’s CEO donates $5,000 for each head shaved. The money goes to Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Last year, 850 people shaved their heads. That’s a total donation of $4.25-million. This year, they’re going for $5–million. That’s 1,000 haircuts. It’s not just men that are shaving their heads.

Keri Kilty, Granite’s Non-Profit Business Development Manager had her head shaved and says, "I can make the choice. It will grow back. I’ve had quite a few family members that have not had the choice. If I can participate and bring a cure and make the fight of cancer be easier, better, or someday just not be there at all, [because] there’s a cure, that is more than worth it for me. I wasn’t nervous, but I didn’t really know how I felt and how it was going to go. It just feels wonderful. It feels wonderful to be able to be a part of this cause."