RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Hammer & Nails in Summit Mall and Caughlin Ranch and Urban Barber Union & Salon (UBU) have partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows (BGCTM) to launch a new program called Grades for Fades. The goal of the initiative is to offer free haircuts to children to help boost their confidence and self-esteem as they head back to school.

This initiative is the brainchild of Ty Smith (aka Shorty T), owner of UBU. He and Heather Dixon of Hammer and Nails in South Reno stopped by Morning Break to share how this program not only gives kids a fresh look, but also serves as an incentive for academic progress.

Grades for Fades aims to motivate students to tutor and improve their grades. Students can submit their semester transcripts to participate. Eighty students will be randomly selected to receive free haircuts, with future haircuts dependent on academic progress. Notably, there is no minimum GPA required—any improvement from the previous semester is sufficient. BGCTM will manage all of the follow-up and logistics to keep the program running for the foreseeable future.

The Katie Grace Foundation also contributes by providing toiletry kits to all children who go to the hairdresser so that they have everything they need for a good start to the school year.

There are several events taking place this week where students can get their hair cut before the start of the school year.

• Urban Barber Union & Salon – 701 E. 2nd St.
  • Wednesday, August 7 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Hammer & Nails at Summit Mall – 13925 S. Virginia St. (next to Dillard’s)
  • Thursday, August 8 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Hammer & Nails in Caughlin Ranch – 4792 Caughlin Pkwy. Ste. 205 (next to Moxie’s)
  • Thursday, August 8 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Call BGCTM for more information on enrolling your student in the program.

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