The Crazy Beard Campaign is back for its tenth year. But this year, we have a new cause in honor of my kiddo, Oliver.
Ollie is an incredible kid. He loves running, jumping, climbing and dancing. He has a smile that takes over his whole face and a laugh that lights up the room.
Ollie also has autism.
He was diagnosed this past summer, but we've suspected he was somewhere on the spectrum for the last year and a half or so.
It's been an emotional journey for us all. But it’s also been a journey full of love. Ollie adores our family and friends, loves his teachers and lights up when he sees his therapists.
He's in a great school and is figuring out how to interact with other kids. He has a pretty significant speech delay, but he's finding his words along with new ways to communicate with us every day.
So this year, it felt right to tie the Crazy Beard campaign to the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). They're doing some pretty amazing research on the science of autism. And on the effectiveness of different therapies. And on promoting life outcomes. And on how to be a supportive caregiver for a kiddo on the spectrum.
The thing I love about them is they aren't trying to "cure autism." They're trying to empower people with autism to live their best lives.
We don't want to cure Ollie's autism. It's part of what makes him who he is. But we want to open as many doors as we can for him down the road to live the kind of life he wants to live.
So this year, during Ollie's birthday month (February), we're fundraising for OAR.
When November rolled around nine years ago, I had a nasty playoff beard on this face (thanks to the Cardinals). It seemed like a waste to just shave it off. So instead, after a bit of encouragement from friends, I decided to donate my face to charity.
And for the last nine years you all have been incredible. The outpouring of generosity and love has been overwhelming. Together these last nine years, we’ve raised over $19,000 to do a whole lot of good.
The Growth
I’ll grow my beard for all of February. At that point my face will be shaggy, nasty, and ready to be molded in whatever wild pattern you can dream up.
The Shave
After a month of growth, my beard will be in desperate need of a shave. That’s where you come in.
Everyone that donates to this campaign will be entered into a random drawing. No donation is too small. If you give, you’re in the running.
On January 1st, I’ll select a donor at random to pick how I shave my beard. As long as what you suggest isn’t offensive, I’m in.
Here are some past designs for inspiration:
Every Donor Adds Time
The number of donations will determine how long I wear this beard. For each person that donates, I’ll wear the beard for an additional hour. So 24 donors means an additional day. 168 donors would be a full week. It’s up to you all.
If you’re ready to be part of funding some groundbreaking research, click on the Donate button on this page.
Thanks so much for reading and for your continued interest year after year. You all are the best.
- David
Supporters | |||
Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
Josh&Katrina Geltman | 03/01/2022 | $104.37 | So sorry we're late to this! What a wonderful kiddo and a great organization! xoxo | Leon Satz | 03/01/2022 | $26.06 | Anonymous Friend | 03/01/2022 | $100.00 | Glad to know that I am not to late to donate. What a great cause to be a part of. | Sita Kedia | 02/28/2022 | $154.79 | David - What an amazing initiative! | Zack Kahn | 02/28/2022 | $103.30 | Laura Levy | 02/27/2022 | $20.91 | Sam Nantz Burbatt | 02/27/2022 | $25.00 | ❤️ | Kari Wooderson | 02/27/2022 | $31.20 | Mackenzie Polete | 02/27/2022 | $26.06 | Caleb Bradley | 02/27/2022 | $41.50 | Ann Hartstein | 02/26/2022 | $250.00 | Love to all of you. Loking forward to seeing you soon!! Ann & Cathy | David Hartstein | 02/26/2022 | $275.00 | Carissa Hidder | 02/26/2022 | $20.91 | Andrew Serkes | 02/26/2022 | $100.00 | Lauren Brown | 02/26/2022 | $100.00 | So proud to call you family. We will continue to help you spread this beautiful and necessary message. | Anonymous Friend | 02/26/2022 | $52.34 | ❤ | Brad and Wendy Tinnon | 02/25/2022 | $206.28 | We'll be praying that Ollie gets the help he deserves. Thanks David for all you do to make the lives of others better! | Beth Johnson | 02/25/2022 | $30.00 | Happy Birthday, Oliver! ? | Susan Bullock | 02/23/2022 | $51.80 | Love and prayers sweet Oliver ! ❤️?? | Emily Krebs | 02/18/2022 | $51.80 | For Ollie!!! <3 | Anna Stidham | 02/13/2022 | $25.00 | Jeremy Thomas | 02/13/2022 | $104.37 | Nikki Coleman | 02/13/2022 | $25.00 | Much love to your sweet family ❤️ | Laelle Busch | 02/13/2022 | $50.00 | Bryan McMahon | 02/13/2022 | $26.06 | Oliie's got himself a great dad to look up to. Hope you and the family are well! | Nick, Merissa, & Delilah Doran | 02/13/2022 | $51.80 | We love Ollie, Ashlee, and the opportunity to make David’s face a work of art! | Melissa Kelly | 02/13/2022 | $20.91 | Susan Byer | 02/11/2022 | $103.30 | Happy bday Ollie!! Love Matthew and Susan Byer | Amanda & Philip Sholts | 02/10/2022 | $257.78 | OLLIE IS THE BEST! WE LOVE OLLIE! | Suzann,Jean Antoine | 02/10/2022 | $103.30 | Thinking of you all. What a beautiful boy Ollie is. You inspire us. Love the Antoine’s. | Callie Bearman | 02/10/2022 | $31.20 | Sheila Ashby | 02/09/2022 | $51.80 | We love you Oliver and your love of play, snuggles and sense of adventure. | Lauren Wagner | 02/09/2022 | $20.91 | Emily Pummill | 02/09/2022 | $25.00 | Lindsay Gonterman | 02/09/2022 | $51.80 | Courtney Merrell | 02/09/2022 | $30.00 | Love you all so much! | Christine Ward | 02/09/2022 | $30.00 | Emily Brennan | 02/08/2022 | $51.80 | For the kindest people I know and their cute kiddo, OLLIE. Love you guys! | Michelle Panneton | 02/08/2022 | $52.34 | Keith & Cydney Strand | 02/07/2022 | $154.79 | Go Ollie ! | Jessica Conick | 02/07/2022 | $10.61 | For Ollie! | Courtney Lane | 02/07/2022 | $51.80 | Rob Good | 02/07/2022 | $103.30 | I know Ollie is going to love your crazy beard. | Amanda Stekloff | 02/07/2022 | $103.30 | Vicki Friedman | 02/07/2022 | $154.79 | I am thrilled to support Ollie, the Crazy Beard and the beautiful family who make a difference in the lives of others. Love all around! | Jillian Johnson | 02/07/2022 | $75.00 | Marie & Jonathan Goldford | 02/06/2022 | $206.28 | We love Ollie and the whole family so much. There's no other cause we'd be happier to support! | Sarah Arnosky Ko | 02/06/2022 | $51.80 | Todd Cohan | 02/06/2022 | $103.30 | Happy to contribute to a wonderful cause!! | Linville Family | 02/06/2022 | $26.06 | Love this and Ollie so much! | Alex McQueary | 02/06/2022 | $31.20 | Owen Wipper | 02/06/2022 | $200.00 | I can't think of anything more worthwhile than giving to a cause that may make my best friend Ollie's life a little better. My parents and I love you so much! | Carrie Seida | 02/06/2022 | $50.00 | Rebekah Jaudes | 02/06/2022 | $51.80 | From Aunt Becky & Uncle Luke; WE LOVE YOU OLLIE!❤️ | Daniel Cosgrove | 02/06/2022 | $26.06 | Will Gilbert | 02/06/2022 | $50.00 | Nick Mulvihill | 02/06/2022 | $52.34 | Ollie, Ollie, he’s so jolly! (To the tune of the ‘04 classic, “Dave, Dave, He’s So Brave!”) | Leemon Kim | 02/06/2022 | $31.20 | We are happy to donate in honor of Ollie. He’s got all of us rooting for his journey. Love you all to pieces! Mark and Kim | Keri Sipe | 02/06/2022 | $51.80 | Happy to contribute, Ollie is a lucky guy to have such a wonderful family surround him with so much love❤️ | Gretchen Carnoske | 02/06/2022 | $50.00 | Nickie Bartels | 02/06/2022 | $30.00 | Diane & Steve Cohan | 02/06/2022 | $50.00 | Happy to support the cause! | Michael Rosen | 02/06/2022 | $50.00 | As a former winner of the crazy beard drawing, I make this donation with authority! | Stanford and Lynne Lamberg | 02/06/2022 | $103.30 | Thanks for letting us share. Stan and Lynne | Passanante Jean | 02/06/2022 | $100.00 | This is a wonderful cause. Donating in honor of your Willie and my friend Alec, with love. | Jessica Cornell | 02/06/2022 | $26.06 | For Ollie and his wonderful parents. | Marissa Haberlach | 02/05/2022 | $51.80 | Barry Bonds | 02/05/2022 | $154.79 | I may not be in the hall of fame (yet!), but with Ollie behind me anything is possible! | Kim Wiesler | 02/05/2022 | $51.80 | Pops and Macky Xoxo | 02/05/2022 | $288.67 | Oliver - you and your Mom and Dad bring boundless joy to our lives every day! | Anonymous Friend | 02/05/2022 | $515.24 | Melissa Youngblood | 02/04/2022 | $20.91 | Nancy Liberman | 02/04/2022 | $20.91 | What a powerful message! Thanks for including us! Love and warm hugs! Nancy and Keith Liberman | Matt Menietti | 02/04/2022 | $26.06 | Happy to support! | David Rosen | 02/04/2022 | $50.00 | To honor Ollie, one very awesome dude, in his journey | Ellen & John W & S | 02/04/2022 | $200.00 | What beautiful words & a wonderful cause! You are all so special to us & we are happy to support. ❤️ | Anne Lucas | 02/04/2022 | $25.00 | Here's to Ollie! Such an incredible cause. Well done, DH! Sending lots of love to your family. | Jon Franko | 02/04/2022 | $75.00 | Allyson Lough | 02/04/2022 | $31.20 | Olivia Hitchell | 02/04/2022 | $26.06 | Anonymous Friend | 02/03/2022 | $51.80 | Alex Solomon | 02/03/2022 | $77.55 | The Nykins - | 02/03/2022 | $206.28 | What a wonderful cause! Thanks for doing this and I’m glad to help support! | Mark Kizelshteyn | 02/03/2022 | $100.00 | Erin Fults | 02/03/2022 | $26.06 | Drew Steinhoff | 02/03/2022 | $50.00 | Malashock Family | 02/03/2022 | $51.80 | Anonymous Friend | 02/03/2022 | $206.28 | Love you so much, Ollie - and your parents! ❤️ | Hunter Kellett | 02/03/2022 | $31.20 | Joe and Zeena Goldenberg | 02/03/2022 | $51.80 |
Total | $7,268.69 |