Stylishly raising funds for vets

Article by: JEFF STRICKLER , Star Tribune
Updated: September 8, 2010 - 3:02 PM

A hair salon is raising money for wounded vets as way of rallying around one of its stylists, who lost a brother to the Iraq war.

PFC Matthew Milczark was killed just three weeks into his deployment to Iraq. A St. Louis Park hair salon is holding a cut-a-thon to raise money for wounded veterans in his honor.

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A St. Louis Park hair salon is holding a cut-a-thon Saturday to raise money for wounded veterans in honor of the brother of one of its stylists, a Marine who was killed just three weeks into his deployment to Iraq.

The event, at Darrin James Salon, 5105 Minnetonka Blvd., is turning into a close-knit affair. The Marine's mother, also a stylist, will be one of the folks donating proceeds from the haircuts. In addition to the salon's staff, several friends in the business have volunteered to work, and there will be a silent auction for prizes -- ranging from autographed sports memorabilia to gift certificates -- that are being donated by the shop's clients.

"I'm a big fan of karma," said salon owner Darrin Miernicki in explaining the logic he used in persuading folks to contribute. "If you help people, somewhere down the line, someone will help you."

The event honors Matthew Milczark, who was 18 when he died in March 2004. Voted Moose Lake High School's homecoming king in 2003, he enlisted in the Marines after he graduated. He returned to his high school to crown the new homecoming king shortly before he shipped out to the war.

"He said he just wanted to go to Iraq and help out and come back home," his brother, Derek Wood, said in an interview after his death.

Wood is the one organizing the cut-a-thon. He's also the one who decided that the proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project, a group that provides financial and emotional support for veterans and their families.

"They use the money to refit wounded vets' homes to accommodate their wheelchairs so they can stay in their homes when they're discharged," said Wood, four years older than his brother. "I like that the money is going someplace where you can see what it's being used for."

Jeff Strickler • 612-673-7392

CUT-A-THON

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.

Where: Darrin James Salon, 5105 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park.

Includes: Silent auction and refreshments.

More info: 952-922-3100 or www.darrinjamessalon.com.