“We’re at three locations at the same damn time,” Craig Blac said, referencing rapper Future’s latest radio hit.
He’s gearing up for the 11th Annual Community Cuts for Kids taking place next Sunday (Aug. 12) simultaneously at Monsanto YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis (formerly Herbert Hoover) and the Mary Brown Center in East St. Louis.
He’ll offer free hairstyles for boys and girls and school supplies (while they last), as he did when the Community Cuts first kicked off during his days at 100.3 The Beat FM.
The station format changed, and the once top-rated local hip-hop personality Craig Blac has been off the airwaves for the past few years. But his efforts to help the community by offering free haircuts and school supplies to area youth is still in prime time for him.
“This part was never about Craig Blac the personality, it was always about me helping the kids,” Blac said. “This whole Community Cuts for Kids has been 150 percent genuine, and if I didn’t do it I would feel terrible – whether I’m on the radio or not. It is my passion.”
So much a passion that he set up The Craig Shields Foundation to help secure funding for Community Cuts on a larger scale. In addition to the St. Louis metro area, Blac has held Community Cuts in Madison, Wis. and plans to bring the program to his hometown of Washington, D.C. next year.
“It helps when you have a foundation,” Blac admitted. “Before, it was about me pulling resources from wherever – it’s still about that – but it helps out when you are a foundation and have that 501c3 status. It’s still hard to pull resources, but the foundation gives me a lot more leverage.”
Blac admits that it has been a struggle to get enough resources to serve the more than 3,000 young people with free hairstyles for the girls and haircuts for the boys and limited school supplies. Both the economy and events similar to his Community Cuts have created challenges.
“Other events right now are copying what I do, so it makes it even worse,” Blac said. “But as long as we are all helping, it is what it is – as long as they have services to meet the needs of the young people of St. Louis and East St. Louis it is all good.”
Blac said that he is leaving no stone unturned in his ambitious goal of offering haircuts, styles, supplies and dental screenings for 3,500 children over the course of four hours on Sunday. He’s partnered with the likes of McDonald’s, U.S. Cellular, Church’s Chicken, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Computers R Us to make his goal a reality.
The only thing he asks in return is that the young people to be cut or styled come with their hair washed.
Dozens of barbers and stylists will be on deck to help out, but Blac still needs plenty of school supplies.
“We need it all, folders, book bags, glue – trapper keepers,” Blac said. “As much as we can get for 2012.”
For the ninth year Fox 2’s Tim Ezell he is partnering with Blac for a school supply drive. And once again Vatterott College is a part of paying things forward as well. This year’s drive will take place live on-air at 6:50 a.m. at Vatterott’s St. Charles Campus on Wed., Aug. 8. Guests dropping off supplies will get a free haircut or style courtesy of Vatterott students until 8 a.m.
“All of my regular people are back and we are just so grateful for all of the people who continue to have our back with Community Cuts,” Blac said. “And we are always looking for new partners.”
The newest partnership includes the East St. Louis Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, who will be aiding Blac with promoting the East St. Louis location activities.
In addition to the cuts, styles and supplies, attendees will have an opportunity to win a free laptop computer at each of the three locations.
“We want to help these kids as much as we possibly can,” Blac said. “We want them to start the school year off fresh.”
The Craig Shields Foundation presentation of the 11th Annual Craig Blac Community Cuts for Kids will take place on Sunday, August 12 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at The Monsanto YMCA (5555 Page Blvd.) The Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis (Formerly Herbert Hoover, 2901 N. Grand) and The Mary Brown Center of East St. Louis (606 S. 15th St.). The Fox 2 News School Supply Drive with Tim Ezell will take place on Wed. Aug 8 at 6:50 a.m.at Vatterott College’ St. Charles Location (3550 West Clay Street).
For more information about Craig Blac Community Cuts for Kids, visit Thecraigshieldsfoundation.org.
