Paul Mitchell The School of Federal Way has wrapped up its first round of annual fundraising for community organizations after taking over the former Gene Juarez last year.

On Dec. 17 they presented a check to local nonprofit the Genesis Project Seattle to go toward their work supporting survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Paul Mitchell schools all raise funds for charitable causes during their annual “fun raising” and give back to the community in various ways, but most don’t start doing this much until they’ve been open for a few years.

The Federal Way location at 2222 S. 314th St. got started right away and fundraised through bake sales, lunch specials and selling jewelry. They even got creative and started a Denim Day where students could pay $5 to shirk the black, white and gray dress code and wear denim.

Lunch specials were open for purchase for cosmetology and hair clients and students alike. Some favorites Paul Mitchell students mentioned included lasagna, tacos and lumpia.

Student Jesus Esquivel prepared some sweet treats and organized a bake sale to contribute.

“I love cooking and baking, so it was great to get to make money with something I like doing,” Esquivel said. He brought flan, conchas, cookies and more. This was his first time participating in a fundraiser for a good cause like this, but he had plenty of experience from his time with the Associated Student Body (ASB) when in high school in Kent.

“It feels nice to be able to help people,” student Sarah Howe said of getting to participate in the fundraising efforts.

Edith Mercado-Antunez, sales and operations leader of Federal Way, said she’s already looking ahead to the next fundraising cycle. “I can’t wait for next year to get to use everything we learned!” she said.

“I’d just like to thank all of you that were here and all of you that are going to be here the next time, we will double our money, maybe triple it, because now we know what we’re doing. And that was a learning lesson,” Rhonda Young, Learning Leader and Theory Specialist, said to the school at the check presentation.

The school began to phase in the new curriculum in 2023, but didn’t hold their official ribbon cutting until Sept. 26 of this year.

Fundraising

Half of the funds raised by every Paul Mitchell School are split between nine nonprofits. These include: Cast – Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, Best Friends Animal Society, Food 4 Africa, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, No Limits for Deaf Children and Families, Gary Sinise Foundation, UNCF, the Thirst Project by Legacy Youth Leadership and Leeza’s Care Connection.

The other half is split between a local nonprofit of the individual school’s choosing and the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation.

They raised $335.50 total this year for the Genesis Project.

The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation is named after a “special Paul Mitchell Future Professional who had a magical way of knowing when someone was struggling, depressed, or needed a hug – maybe because he struggled with mental illness and depression himself,” according to the foundation’s website. Gomez died by suicide 2002 and “because so many people loved him and wanted to continue the gift he gave, his family, former instructors, and friends formed the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation in his honor.”

Among other things, the foundation pays for motivational speakers and workshops for current Paul Mitchell students to enrich their well-being during their professional development experience at the school.

In addition to fundraising for the Genesis Project Seattle, the Paul Mitchell School Federal Way collaborated with them in another way by holding a Glam Day for participants and staff of the nonprofit’s programs.

“They loved it, they still don’t stop talking about it,” Center Director and Case Manager for the Genesis Project Dehystinee Davis said of the event. When asked if anyone was interested in pursuing a cosmetology career after the experience, Davis said at least one of the survivors they serve was interested and even ended up dying the hair of one of the college interns at the Genesis Project.

If anyone is inspired to get involved, the Genesis Project Seattle is always looking for volunteers, Davis said. They have a golf tournament and a Night of Hope event coming up that could use volunteers and they also invite guest professionals to come in and share skills.

The Genesis Project Seattle is a nonprofit that received a donation from the Paul Mitchell School in Federal Way during their first fundraising event. As part of their collaboration, they offered a free ‘glam day’ to participants and some staff of the organization. Photo provided by Paul Mitchell.

The Paul Mitchell team in Federal Way held an ice cream sundae bar as one of their fundraisers during their annual campaign. Photo provided by Paul Mitchell The Paul Mitchell team in Federal Way held an ice cream sundae bar as one of their fundraisers during their annual campaign. Photo provided by Paul Mitchell.

One student made jewelry to sell as part of the fundraiser. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror