The Student Center buzzed with the sound of hair clippers and conversation on the evening of Saturday, January 21. Students supported 19 community members participanting in the St. Baldrick Foundations’ annual head-shaving event.
St. Baldrick’s, founded in 1999, is a non-profit that supports research into childhood cancer. What started as a head shaving challenge between three college friends one St. Patrick’s Day is now the largest private funder of childhood cancer research. The organization has donated over $340 million since its founding.
The school hosted its first shaving event in 2022, when Jack Morvillo ’22 introduced the cause to the community. Since then, his brother Liam Morvillo ’25 and co-organizers, including Devon Christian ’24, Leo Wang ’24, and Eli Albert ’26, have hosted the event. The younger Morvillo said, “Childhood cancer is very personal to me, as I know many people who have battled the disease. When my brother graduated, I quickly jumped at the opportunity to take over his efforts and continue the school’s connection with St. Baldrick’s.”
This year, 18 students and two faculty members participated in the head shave—19 in the event in the Student Center, one afterwards. Chrys Yue ’26, a first-time participant, said, “My soccer teammate Andy Bowers ’24 and I made the impulsive decision to shave our heads, inspired by the other shavees in attendance. We are more than happy to have participated, as it supported such an amazing cause.”
In the weeks leading up to the event, the organizers worked to publicize the event and enourage participants to join the shave.
Dr. Richard Kirby, instructor in chemistry, spoke about his battle with cancer at an all-school meeting. Wang said, “I think we did a great job in creating a wider buzz within the community. I loved seeing energetic shavees challenge their peers or even teachers to participate alongside them.”
This year, for the first time, Mr. Mike Fitzgerald, instructor in history, joined the event. He aspired to raise $500, but was just short of that goal a few hours before the event.
Mr. Marc Dittmer, instructor in German, then promised to join Mr. Fitzgerald if the $500 goal was reached. He also added a stretch goal—if $1,000 was raised, he would allow a student to shave his head. By check-in the fundraiser had raised $891 — narrowly short.
However, his promise galvanized the community, which ultimately raised $13,000. Mr. Dittmer then shaved his head at home.
St. Baldrick’s is still accepting contributions in support of members of Team Hotchkiss. Donation links are on social media, distributed through all-school emails, and on the foundation’s website.
