DCS partners with Great Clips to provide free haircuts and toys to children in foster care

DCS partners with Great Clips to provide free haircuts and toys to children in foster care

PHOENIX (November 29, 2017) –  

You can help a child in foster care this holiday season just by getting a haircut.

The Department of Child Safety (DCS) has partnered with Great Clips, Inc. on the company’s plans to donate one dollar from every haircut to support Arizona Helping Hands’ Toy Drive.

The partnership will kick off December 2 with an in-salon fundraising event that will take place at all Great Clips locations in Arizona.

But Great Clips’ generosity won’t end with the holidays. That’s because the company is also donating 500 free haircuts a month to children in foster care throughout the year.

“We greatly appreciate Great Clips’ kindness for making this holiday season a little more special for children in foster care and dedicating their resources year round to help Arizona’s most vulnerable children,” said DCS Director Greg McKay.

Great Clips looks to continue working with DCS to help Arizona's most vulnerable children.

“The Phoenix market Great Clips CO-OP is grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of local children,” said Randy Nelson, a Great Clips Franchisee. “We’re looking forward to supporting children in the foster care and group home system not only with our December 2 event, but growing our relationship with the organization to support these children throughout the year.”

For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visitGreatClips.com.  

Arizona Helping Hands has held its toy drive every holiday season since 1998 and provides toys, personal care items, and clothing to children in foster care. 

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ABOUT DIRECTOR GREGORY MCKAY

Gregory A. McKay is a twenty year veteran of Law Enforcement with an emphasis on criminal investigations of violent crime. He was awarded Arizona's Investigator of the Year for solving many high-profile child murder cases. As a former Arizona foster parent, he understands the lasting emotional and physical effects of abuse to a child. In 2013, he was awarded Childhelp USA’s Heart of an Angel Award, recognizing his distinguished career in child advocacy, investigative expertise, and removal of child predators. McKay was appointed Director of DCS by Governor Douglas A. Ducey on February 10, 2015.

Director McKay has led several breakthrough initiatives for the department. Under his leadership, the DCS has successfully completed the backlog of uninvestigated cases that had plagued the department for years. The department also safely reduced the number of children in state foster care by 10% in 2016, thus reversing a ten year growth trend of 92%. By eliminating hotline hold times, reducing staff caseloads, decreasing congregate care and increasing family and community engagement in the service of the state’s most vulnerable children, the state is poised to meet Director McKay’s goal of making Arizona the safest place in the country for children to grow and thrive.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY (DCS)

The Department of Child Safety is dedicated to the vision that “Children thrive in family environments free from abuse and neglect.” As highly motivated and caring public servants, the DCS team is committed to fulfilling this mission with excellence, providing safety and well-being for the most vulnerable population in Arizona - our children. If you suspect child abuse, call 888-SOS-CHILD.