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About Us

M4K Lynchburg improves the quality of life for local children through individual fundraising, partnering with local charities and businesses, and having a little bit of fun with facial hair.

Where the money goes

Meet our
40+ charities.

The local organizations our growers raise money for, all serving Lynchburg-area kids. Hear their stories.

See the charities we support →

Our story

It started with
32 guys.

M4K Lynchburg is a volunteer-run organization raising money for local children's charities while having fun growing mustaches. In 2014, Chris Boswell and Lanny Duncan recruited 32 guys in Lynchburg to grow mustaches for a great cause. It grew from there.

  • 2014Founded by Chris Boswell & Lanny Duncan
  • 300+Growers today
  • $4M+Raised for the children of Lynchburg
  • $700KOur 2026 goal. Let's make it our best year yet!

A big thanks to M4K Richmond for getting us started and for all of their guidance along the way.

30 days · Nov to Dec

The Growing Season

Each year, during the 30-day Growing Season, from Kick-Off in early November to the Stache Bash in early December, Growers sprout sweet, sweet Mustaches. Per Mustaches for Kids bylaws, they shave their faces, except for the Mustache, at least once a week and ask friends, family, co-workers and the community for donations.

Kind of like getting pledges to run a marathon. Without the exertion, cramping, or dehydration. Call it a facial hair marathon.

The finale

The Stache Bash

At the end of the Growing Season, the Growers hold a Mustache Competition called the Stache Bash: a cross between a beauty pageant, a dog show, and a police lineup.

Growers, often in Mustache-enhancing costumes, are put through a test of mind, body, and Mustache. An independent panel of judges evaluates their facial hair, and one Mustache is declared the Sweetest.

Best of all, it's the night we announce how close we got to our goal and present giant checks to our charities.

ADD THE DATES TO YOUR CALENDAR →

Mustache Growing Rules

The
rules.

Lest you think this is some front for a bunch of guys who just don't want to shave, our Ethics Committee has come up with Mustache Growing Rules:

  1. Clean Shaven Day

    On the designated Clean Shaven Day (Kick-Off Day), Growers will shave their faces clean of any and all facial hair. This includes, but is not limited to, Mustaches, beards, goatees, muttonchops, chinstraps, soul patches, sideburns that extend below the top of the earlobe, and Van Dykes.

  2. Weekly Check-Ins

    For 30 days, sweet Mustaches will be grown for the world to behold. There will be weekly Mustache Check-In Days, when all involved shave their mugs, save for the area above the upper lip. No fair growing a full beard or goatee for a month, then shaving down to just the Mustache.

  3. Corner to corner

    The Mustache must only stretch from one corner of your mouth to the other. No Edwardian tapers. No Rollie Fingers handlebars. Just corner-to-corner conformity.

  4. Banned styles

    No Hitler Mustaches are allowed.

  5. No performance enhancers

    The use of growth hormones and coloring agents is not condoned or sanctioned by M4K Lynchburg. We feel these Mustache Growing Performance Enhancers violate the spirit of the contest.

  6. The honor system

    Check-Ins aren't mandatory (M4K Lynchburg believes in the Honor System), but they're a great chance to encourage your Mustache brothers-in-arms. M4K Lynchburg representatives will be at every Check-In to address any Mustache questions or concerns. And we will drink beer.

  7. The fundraising goal

    With such burgeoning Mustaches firmly in place, fundraising should be a walk in the park. Each Grower's minimum goal should be at least $1,000 (the historical average is well over $1,000), but no one should be discouraged from joining because they don't think they can make it. $50 or $5,000, it goes to a good cause. Please be aware of and obey all local laws when soliciting donations.

  8. Mustache abuse

    While M4K Lynchburg does not endorse trash-talking or disparaging comments of any kind about another Grower's Mustache, there are a number of unsubstantiated medical theories that Mustache Abuse stimulates follicle growth.

  9. The 'Stache Bash

    When all is said and done, a Mustache Competition will be held: the 'Stache Bash. A panel of judges will select the Sweetest 'Stache, Weakest 'Stache, and other coveted awards using a complicated, and very scientific, set of criteria. Race, creed, nationality, sexual orientation, and popularity will not be taken into consideration. As in past years, booing will not be tolerated, especially by rival competitors; this is for charity, after all. Like the Check-Ins, the final judging should foster a party-like atmosphere to celebrate the fruits of everyone's Mustache labors.

  10. Checks & donations

    The Growing Season ends after 30 days, but there's no deadline for fundraising. Checks should be made payable to M4K Lynchburg, and all donations are tax-deductible. Hand off checks to an M4K Lynchburg representative at the Check-Ins or the 'Stache Bash, or mail them to:

    M4K Lynchburg
    1300-B Commerce St
    Lynchburg, VA 24504

  11. Good luck

    And good growing.

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FAQs

Mustaches?
For kids?

Yes. Mustaches for Kids. We admit it's a somewhat unusual concept, so we've collected answers to the questions we get.

Is this a joke?

No. Since its start in 1999, thousands of Growers across the US and Canada have joined Mustaches for Kids and raised millions of dollars for children's charities. The Lynchburg chapter, M4K Lynchburg, started in 2014 and has since raised over $4,000,000 for local Lynchburg children's charities.

I'm a woman. Can I join?

M4K Lynchburg does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of sex, age, nationality, or anything else you can think of. Anyone can raise money for the cause. Just remember, “The Mustache is more in the heart than on the face.”

I want to do it, but I'm scared.

Technically, that is not a question, but we will respond nonetheless. We suggest you step up to the plate. It's time to overcome your fears and grow a Mustache for a good cause. Remember, there's no “i” in “mustache.”

What will I tell my friends, co-workers, and loved ones who object to my Mustache and ridicule me for it?

Do what we do. Fix them with a steely gaze and tell them the truth: “It's for the kids.” Then ask them to make a donation.

Why Mustaches? Why the silly name?

This is not your typical fundraising organization. We believe in doing good and having a good time doing it.

Are you sure this isn't a joke?

Positive.

Swear?

We swear to all that we hold holy that this is not a joke. We need your support.

CONTACT

M4K Lynchburg, Inc

M4K Lynchburg is legally designated as a 501c3 by the IRS. 

Tax ID:  81-1738785

Please contact us at info@m4klynchburg.org with any questions.

 

Copyright Compliance

M4K Lynchburg respects intellectual property rights.  It is M4K Lynchburg's policy, in appropriate circumstances, to terminate the accounts of users who are repeat infringers or are repeatedly charged with infringement.

If you believe that any of the content posted on this website infringes your intellectual property rights, please notify M4K Lynchburg's DMCA designated Copyright Compliance Agent at info@m4klynchburg.org or any of the other contact methods provided on this page.