coming on strong

Over halfway there in this five-week endurance test.

The mustache looks like a mustache, I've raised $1,235 (thank you to those who have donated already!), and I'm unrecognizable at first glance by some colleagues and friends who have walked right by me and my fancy new face.

But I have a lot more to go. I'm still well over $1,000 short of my fundraising goal for the Think College Now elementary school. These struggling kids need books, and this means I need to work harder: grow the stache with more focus and determination, and remind friends to donate with more perseverance and shamelessness.

At this critical point in my effort, I'm reminded of the legendary runner Steve Prefontaine. Pre was a middle distance man for the University of Oregon in the 1970s, and the holder of almost every State record in Oregon high school history. He was shorter and smaller than the other runners and often the underdog, but believed it was a runner's guts, not physical ability that set them apart. He ran like his life depended on it. He also had an amazing mustache.

Pre's right, it's a guts game at this point. Dig deep and grow as if I can't fail.

Asking you to dig deep too! Please contribute and help the kids from Oakland so they can have these books and curriculum for next semester. I assure you it's the best money spent toward helping others over the holiday season.

Help us down the home stretch...

Emiliano vs. Freddy

My mustache was paid two incredible complements tonight at a work happy hour.

First, it was compared (by my good friend Zach) to the legendary revolutionary stache of the greatest Mexican freedom fighter of all time, Emilano Zapata. High praise indeed. The very next comment (from my main man Judson) drew a comparison between my lip growth and that of Freddy Mercury, an equally legendary alpha-male of a complete different historical era. I argued that I am not worthy of such comparisons. Not yet anyway.

Which stache should I aspire to? I leave that to you good supporter of Mustaches for Kids.











Donate now, tell me the ultimate stache role model, and help inspire me to reach the heights of these legendary mustache growers! More info can be found at http://www.mfksf.org/ and http://www.thinkcollegenow.org/.

Shave Summit II

A shot of my blossoming face flower at about Day 9 at our second Tuesday Shave Summit.

Each Tuesday during this effort, we 'growers' get together at a local watering hole to compare our growing lip manes, get updates on the fundraiser, and have a couple of beers together.

It's fun to get to know the other guys, which has made clear this is not your average philanthropic community event. It's engaging a lot of people who may not otherwise be used to raising money.

A few facts on the Elementary School I'm raising funds for, Think College Now, to get your generosity juices flowing:

Located in the Cesar Chavez Education Center in Oakland's diverse Fruitvale community

Demographics:

91% at or near the poverty line, receiving subsidized or reduced-price lunches

255 students, kindergarten through 5th grade- 73% Latino, 20% African-American, and 7% Asian-American

68% English-language learners

Academic Performance Index (API)-

2005-06: Score increased 109 points, the greatest improvement in the district-

2006-07: Score rose 61 points to 781, again leading all Oakland Unified elementary schools in growth

Behold the Glory

At our weekly mustache weigh-in, I had a chance to come stache to stache with the grand trophy for the winner of the Gala Mustache Pageant on December 17.

As you can see, it is an awe inspiring symbol of excellence in this competition and the grower that wins the right to display this on his mantle is truly a lucky man.

Crowstache, Day 7

My mustache is 7 days old (a mere adolescent in mustache years) and I have to say I already feel a bit more manly. And more wise and contemplative.

Crowstache commences!

Join me as I embark on a legendary journey of self-cultivation to raise money for kids.

Raise money through a racing in Triathalon? Naw, that's for wimps. Bake sales to raise funds? No way, that's for sissies.

Instead, over the next five weeks, I will be growing a fabulous never-seen-before mustache on my upper lip. A blossoming sculpture of manhood. Part of a community fundraiser called Mustaches for Kids. http://www.m4ksf.org/

And for a good cause... By contributing to my Stache-A-Thon you'll be buying books and classroom supplies for Think College Now, a small elementary school in the Fruitvale District of Oakland. http://www.thinkcollegenow.org/

Please support this Stache-A-Thon with a donation of any amount through the Donors Choose link on this page. And check back in to see the progress of my mustache!