Community Corner
NJ Man In The Running For ‘Most Benevolent Beard in America’
Five men who own nonprofits were listed as finalists, and the public can vote to decide who wins the grand prize.
WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne nonprofit owner’s beard is in the running to be named The Most Benevolent Beard in America.
Brian Schwartz, founder of I Want To Mow Your Lawn Inc., has been named a top five finalist for Wahl’s Benevolent Beards Contest. The grooming company’s contest celebrates men who combine good grooming with goodwill.
Founded in Wayne during the COVID-19 pandemic, I Want to Mow Your Lawn Inc. connects volunteers with older adults, veterans, people with disabilities and others who need help maintaining their properties. What began as Schwartz mowing lawns for neighbors has grown into a nationwide nonprofit network that matches volunteers with homeowners requesting free, temporary yard work.
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“Most of them are aging or disabled veterans, on fixed incomes, whose yards have become fall hazards, code violations, and visible signs of isolation,” Schwartz said. “For the last 5+ years, we’ve built real infrastructure… Partnerships with national equipment manufacturers and veteran-focused foundations.
Related: Lawn Care Nonprofit In Wayne Earns $17.5K Grant To Help Seniors
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Today, the organization has 1,800 volunteers in all 50 states and has received more than 10,000 requests for assistance since 2020. In addition to lawn mowing, volunteers provide services such as trimming, edging and seasonal yard cleanup, with the goal of helping people remain safely and independently in their homes while fostering neighbor-to-neighbor connections.
It is now up to the public to choose Schwartz or four other bearded individuals to win the contest. The winner gets the $5,000 grand prize for himself, and a $20,000 donation to his charity.
The winner will also get a visit from Wahl’s Mobile Barbershop for a charity grooming event where barbers will offer the public free beard trims. Schwartz says if he gets a visit from Wahl’s Mobile Barbershop, he’ll organize for people to have their lawns cut while their hair is cut.
Click here to vote for Wahl’s Most Benevolent Beard in America.
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