Mark Bustos wants you to #BeAwesomeToSomebody. Mark is a stylist at an elite salon in New York City. Celebrity clients pay more than $100 to let him tame their tresses.
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But every Sunday, Mark hits the streets, giving haircuts to the homeless men and women he meets. This Dec. 10 article in The New York Times tells the story of how Mark uses his talent for hairstyling to bring a little light to the lives of those who are facing a lot of darkness.
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This is skills-based philanthropy. No money to give? No problem! Don't really feel like serving at a soup kitchen? That's okay. Skills-based philanthropy is about giving what you have to offer -- taking your talent and putting it to use for someone in need.
In the story by writer Alyson Krueger, Mark relays a story about a homeless man who, after a haircut, said he was ready to go find a job.
Photo by Devin Masga. Devin, a Brooklyn-based street photographer, takes many of the photos found on Mark's Instagram account.
Alison writes:
“Mary E. Brosnahan, the president and chief executive of Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit advocacy group, said that a haircut is often more than a haircut. It can remind the homeless of who they once were, and offer a rosier version of their current, shattered selves. “It helps shift the gear out of survival mode,” Ms. Brosnahan said, letting them envision a better life.”
Photo credit: Ramsay deGive/The New York Times