On Monday March 7th, George Gonzalez, HARPO celebrity hairstylist and owner of George- The Salon (23 W. Hubbard) in downtown Chicago, opened his doors and heart to the On Your Feet Foundation (OYFF) by donating his salon services and space to raise money for this nonprofit 501c3 organization. The OYFF is dedicated to providing personal support to birthparents to help them get "back on their feet" after making an adoption plan for their child. This small not for profit foundation gained national recognition after one of their retreats (a weekend in Michigan City, Indiana, run by birthmothers for birthmothers) was featured on the MTV TV series "Teen Mom".
Attendees enjoyed haircuts, color, and styling sessions with George- The Salon's top stylists with a $100 donation for each service provided. $5,700 was raised during this 3 hour charity fundraiser, an accomplishment George Gonzalez is honored to contribute to.
"Having a business gives me a platform to do what I feel is necessary in order to give back to my community. George- the Salon's main focus is on helping victims of domestic violence regain self-esteem," explains George Gonzalez, owner of George- The Salon.
"I know firsthand what domestic violence does to a woman's sense of self. As a child, I witnessed my mother abused by my former step-father and I watched her struggle with her own sense of worth. Whether a woman's self esteem is damaged due to another person or a difficult situation, I find it is important to support organizations that can provide the resources they need to improve their lives. When I heard of what OYFF did for birthmothers (women who for a number of reasons place their children with adoptive families) I wanted to help. I have been blessed with the talent of making women feel beautiful and I want to share my gift with as many woman as I can."
