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Salon Karma 'Cuts for a Cause' benefits the May Institute

Date: 12/15/2008

By Kaitlyn Schroyer

Staff Intern



EAST LONGMEADOW Vanessa Lewis, Jennifer Piccard and Salon Karma are doing their part in helping multiple organizations in the area.

On Dec. 6, Lewis, Piccard and the salon hosted Cuts for a Cause. Eighty percent of all proceeds from the fundraiser went to the May Institute, which provides comprehensive, research-validated services to children and adults with autism, brain injury, mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and behavioral health care needs. The organization's corporate headquarters are in Randolph, Mass.

"We have been blessed in our life that we wanted to give back to the community and do anything we can," Piccard, co-owner of Salon Karma with Lewis, said.

Lewis is the wife of Staind frontman and songwriter Aaron Lewis. Both come from this area and love to give back to the community.

Haircuts were $20 and manicures were $10 the day of the fundraiser. Over the span of four hours, Salon Karma raised over $1,500 for the May Institute.

In addition to helping out the May Institute, the salon also recently helped a 17-year-old girl in foster care, Laura Ann, with a dream of joining the Peace Corps. The salon provided her with a daylong makeover, which included a hair color, a hair cut, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure, along with an iPod and a new outfit.

But Salon Karma does not stop there. Once a month, they provide complimentary makeovers for the YWCA battered women's shelter. This helps the women staying there get a fresh start while trying to start a new life.

This holiday season, the salon has been hosting food drives and a giving tree. The giving tree is benefiting Marion's Kids and the food collected goes to Rachel's Table.

"We thought that this would be one of our worthwhile and rewarding things we could do to usher in the holidays," Lewis commented.