Is Children with Hairloss ... Legit or Scam?

[JaneQtDoe]

Does anyone know if this organization is legit?
Has anyone ever heard of them?
I have googled for info and got the following info!
:confused:

Children With Hair Loss Foundation... 22215 Huron River Drive Rockwood, MI 48173 1-866-HAIRLOS (424-7567) 734-379-7048 FAX 734-379-8983.
E-mail us at uniqueb@hotmail.com.
www.cwhl.org/donations.html - 8k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

Hmmmmmm, the page will not load ... the e-mail is with HOTMAIL? :mad:

The mailed form has this:
Children With Hairloss
PMB 724-Contribution Center -CA
29193 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48034-1011

Please make checks payable to: Children With Hairloss

Children With Hairloss
22215 Huron River Drive,
Rockwood, MI 48173

Has obtained the assistance of:

Associated Community Services, Inc.
24681 Northwestern Highway
Suite 250
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 351-6713

A paid professional fund raiser, to assist in the fund raising program.

I googled and found this doc. :confused:
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/online_pub...1campaigns.pdf - Supplemental Result -

[monica49]

is that a joke? How many charities seek money for desperate people and this is CHILDREN WITH HAIRLOSS? Hmmm sounds like a mob scam to launder money doesn't it?

[simonsays]

Please help me I am 50 year old child I am lossing my hair like crazy.I will pay from my piggy bank $3.51 to:
Children With Hairloss
22215 Huron River Drive,
Rockwood, MI 48173
PS that's all I got please help simonsays

[linda49]

Hi Jane - I see this is your second request for info - the first posted under the thread "verifying charities" back in November. The site -www.childrenwith hairloss.org works and looks legitimate enough to me. It may not be the one you're refering to. God knows it's a worthy cause - if you have ever known a child who suffered from such a condition. What makes you suspicious - that they have retained the services of paid fund-raisers? Sadly, many legitimate non-profits have gone this route. Perhaps they feel it necessary because there are just too many organizations vying for the money people donate.

P.S. - Simon - Perhaps you can start your own charity for "The Folically Challenged Adults with A Silly Sense of Humor - FCASSH - to be pronounced just "Fa Cash"

[ttupper]

Originally Posted by linda49

Sadly, many legitimate non-profits have gone this route. Perhaps they feel it necessary because there are just too many organizations vying for the money people donate.

Linda, you are correct. It is very VERY hard to raise funds - most charities cannot afford the staff and advertising it takes to do it, and they really haven't got a choice. We have not used fund raising agencies (yet), but I would be lying if I said the thought had not crossed my mind more than once.

Another thing that drives charities to use fund raisers is the fact that people are so watchfull about the way charities spend money. A charity that spends 30 or 40 cents out of every dollar they collect on raising funds will not be respected; people won't want to donate to it because they see such figures as outrageous and suspicious. However, for a small charity with limited distribution, that's not an unreasonable figure; economies of scale only happen when the scale of fundraising gets very large. So what happens is this: they hire a fund raiser instead. This way the funds they don't show a huge capital outlay for fund raising. It's unfortunate, but it's a rock and a hard place kind of situation.

[rpshew]

:) This is a legit organisation. My son has severe alopecia & has just received a hairpiece from this organisation free & we are extremely grateful. They somehow did all this even though we are in New Zealand & they are in the US.
All the best to this charitable organisation!!

[amywebb]

Originally Posted by simonsays

Please help me I am 50 year old child I am lossing my hair like crazy.I will pay from my piggy bank $3.51 to:
Children With Hairloss
22215 Huron River Drive,
Rockwood, MI 48173
PS that's all I got please help simonsays

My son has alopecia - he has been bald 3 times, including currently since age 3 - this foundation has helped him receive a hair piece which has changed his life and ours. It is not a scam and mocking children with this condition or anyother condition as far as that goes is sad. I will pray for you.

[amywebb]

This is a legit organization. My son has alopecia and has been bald 3 times including the present since age 3 and he is 9. I have read some of the comments on this page and I understand if you are questioning the organization, but to insult and make fun of children without hair is a complete shock. I really couldn't believe some of the comments made. I hope and pray that your children do not experience anything in their life that would cause hairloss, it is a truely devasting thing for one's self esteem and social development. This organization has helped him get hair and is in the process of getting a custom piece. They haven't asked for a dime, and have been very helpful. If want to know more about it, call the number listed on the homepage.

[morgan77]

:) I found there Web Site www.childrenwithhairloss.us

Originally Posted by JaneQtDoe

Does anyone know if this organization is legit?
Has anyone ever heard of them?
I have googled for info and got the following info!
:confused:

Children With Hair Loss Foundation... 22215 Huron River Drive Rockwood, MI 48173 1-866-HAIRLOS (424-7567) 734-379-7048 FAX 734-379-8983.
E-mail us at uniqueb@hotmail.com.
www.cwhl.org/donations.html - 8k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

Hmmmmmm, the page will not load ... the e-mail is with HOTMAIL? :mad:

The mailed form has this:
Children With Hairloss
PMB 724-Contribution Center -CA
29193 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48034-1011

Please make checks payable to: Children With Hairloss

Children With Hairloss
22215 Huron River Drive,
Rockwood, MI 48173

Has obtained the assistance of:

Associated Community Services, Inc.
24681 Northwestern Highway
Suite 250
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 351-6713

A paid professional fund raiser, to assist in the fund raising program.

I googled and found this doc. :confused:
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/online_pub...1campaigns.pdf - Supplemental Result -

[amywebb]

This is not a scam - they have helped my son receive a hair piece - he has alopecia and is bald - he's 9 years old. We are in the process of receiving a custom piece which are very expensive. We have not been asked for anything they are a legitimate organization - if you still question their motives call the number - talk to them and they can explain their organization.

[valerief]

I see your question is from last year. This week (11/26/06) my daughter and I went to Children With Hairloss in South Rockwood. She suffers from Alopecia Areata and we were ready for a wig. We walked in without an appointment and 90 minutes later we walked out with a styled wig and a hair band to use under hats....all for free! Not only is this place legit, it is probably the most incredible non-profit organization I've run into in a long time. I'm just amazed at what they do for the kids. Have hair to donate? Donate it to them. Not to Locks of Love. L.O.L. takes 8 months to a year to get a child their hairpiece. The longest C.W.H. takes is 8-10 weeks. Imagine your son or child being without a hair piece for 8 months or more. I'm so impressed by what they do I'm touting their services in every way I can and several of my family members are going to do volunteer work for them.

[morgan77]

Originally Posted by monica49

is that a joke? How many charities seek money for desperate people and this is CHILDREN WITH HAIRLOSS? Hmmm sounds like a mob scam to launder money doesn't it?

I found out they are a worth while charitie. They have help many familys and children. Hmmm sounds like monica49 needs help her self. Check out there web site www.childrenwithhairloss.us.

[docrighton]

SCAM

I hear they do help children but the profit margin here is worse then the shrinners.
Most legitimate charities hire profesional board members and elect presidents legally. Not use easy to control friends and family.
Most legitimate charities hire profesional auctioners for there events.
I hear they are run by the same family and friends.

curious??

[heakset]

Maybe their just trying to avoid the huge salaries of presidents and ceos.

[PhilsBabyGirl06]

I just wanted to say that I have worked for a professional fund raising association before who fundraised for the Children with Hair Loss and it is a completely legitimate charity. Check with your state Attorney General's office if you have such a problem believing the person who you speak with on the phone. It is also incredibly immature to deem any cause for fundraising unworthy. If you had lost your hair from any of the following reasons: Chemical Burns, Radiation of Chemotherapy Treatments, or numerous degrees of fire burns, how would you like if people scoffed at the fact that you didn't have the funds to purchase a nearly $1000 hair piece.

[PhilsBabyGirl06]

Another thing, charities as big as the Make a Wish foundation use plenty of assistance in their crusade. They mass mail and call every 2 to 3 months, as opposed to the one time per year of other charitable organizations.

[MissShorti125]

CHILDREN WITH HAIRLOSS IS A HIGHLY LEGITIMATE CHARITY. The founder of the organization is a personal friend of my family and I have seen this charity form from the bottom up. Regina works very hard for this organization and she is a VERY kind person. She works to fundraise so that all of her clientsc get FREE service. In fact, the wigs that most of her clients recieve use a vaccum seal system so the wigs cannot be pulled off. These particular wigs are hand woven by strand and cost about $5000/wig. The site has just recently been unaccessable, I don't know for sure, but they MAY be remodeling the site.

[nomaxim]

BBB reports for the above.

Children with Hair Loss

Children with Hair Loss
(734)379-4400

29100 Gateway Blvd. #100
Flat Rock, MI 48134
View Location Map

Charity-Local

childrenwithairloss@hotmail.com

Regina Villemure, Founder/President

Children with Hair Loss
29193 Northwestern Highway (734) 379-4400
Southfield, MI 48034-1011

Children with Hair Loss
29100 Gateway, Suite 350 (734) 379-4400
Flat Rock, MI 48134 (888) 398-2243 (866) 639-4247 (866) 424-7567 (734) 379-7048 (734) 379-8983
This is not necessarily a complete list.

They are also connected to this company, Unique Enhancements, Inc.

Unique Enhancements, Inc.

(734)379-7048

12776 South Dixie
South Rockwood, MI 48179
View Location Map

Wigs & Hairpieces
Barbers

uniqueb@hotmail.com

Christine Villemure, Owner

michigan.gov/statelicenses

Charitable Organization

Required State License(s):

Should be licensed with the Department of Attorney General, Charitable Trusts Division; (517) 373-1152.

Further Information: Non-profit status is obtained from the Internal Revenue Service, telephone: 1-800-829-4933.

[sandili1]

Yes Children With Hair Loss is a real organization.
I have donated hair once and getting ready to again.
My son and former daughter-in-law and granddaughters have also donated. They have been to the building that they use to do their work and they have done volunteer work for they.
All wigs are made by volunteers with donated hair.
There are children out there that due to chemotherapy, burn victums and others that are not as fortunate as myself and millions of others.
and yes I am passisionate about the subject.
Sandili1

[dr poormouth]

Updated links:
http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us

http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/n...kwood-mi-15962
They now have e-ddresses@childrenwithhailoss, instead of the freemail addy's.

BBB still has no rating for them, due to "insufficient data for meaningful response"
(what, I'm a trekkie: yous gots a problem wit' dat?)

Provisionally, I'm categorizing them as White Hats who - for whatever reason - don't care for the BBB.

[Koval]

Thank you to all that replied to this post. I found you by chance.
I did talk to a lady (The Founder) months ago as I was looking for a place that would take my hair, It has some gray, and most want nothing to do with Gray hair.
I am so happy to see this is Legit for sure, as My sister and I are cutting off 10-12 inches of our hair, on board the Carnival Dream in about 30 days. We will be doing a fund raiser on our own (we are sailing in a group of 150+ people) First Cutting our hair, then giving away buttons for donations,(I am lugging my button maker with me. When we get back we will be sending the pony's and the money in. I was going on faith, and now by sight. Thank you so much for the reassurance.
MJK

[dmtaylor247]

There are genuine charities out there that deal with these things such as children who have had cancer. Sorry but this reminds me of the recent scam here in the UK where a mother had shaved her daughters head and disclosed to the world that she was dying of a terminal disease to collect donations. When will ppl learn. sick. Your right to be concerned though...

[Koval]

It is sad we have to look to see if something is a scam...
We will be cutting off our hair in less than a week in front of a 150 people on the Carnival Dream Cruise. Many are planning on donating to the cause.
Yes, there are more well known Organization that do this same type of thing, but guess what, this one is more reachable, not just the big name, and they take Gray hair too...
Even those big names started small...

[marihand]

Yes, this is absolutely legit. She is a member of my church in Trenton, MI and she had a fundraiser at the church in Dec. 2008 and my 5 year old daughter donated her hair. I have pictures. In fact, she was the one that cut my daughter's hair and did a very nice job. My older daughter wants to donate her hair this weekend so I'm mailing her hair after we cut it. The reason I'm responding right now is because I just looked her up so I could find the address to mail the hair. Definitely legit and she's a wonderful person. She started this because of a family member loosing their hair to disease.

[Koval]

Originally Posted by marihand

Yes, this is absolutely legit. She is a member of my church in Trenton, MI and she had a fundraiser at the church in Dec. 2008 and my 5 year old daughter donated her hair. I have pictures. In fact, she was the one that cut my daughter's hair and did a very nice job. My older daughter wants to donate her hair this weekend so I'm mailing her hair after we cut it. The reason I'm responding right now is because I just looked her up so I could find the address to mail the hair. Definitely legit and she's a wonderful person. She started this because of a family member loosing their hair to disease.

Thanks for the post, My sister and I just cut off our hair on a Cruise, gave away buttons for donations, and I am planning on send both in this week some time. I am hoping we made enough $$ for 3 kits to go with our two braids. 1 about 16in and 1 about 13in (Un-braided hair)
It is nice to know it will go to good use...even though some of it is gray, she promised me that it will be used, (Dyed) Locks of Love just tosses it away...What a waste.

[Emiles]

I donated 10 inches of my hair to this place LAST March, as in 2009. The website says they will give you a certificate and I paid extra money for the t-shirt. I have yet to receive ANYTHING from them. If it's truly legit, it's truly run outrageously poorly.

I wish I would have gone with an organization that I could have been assured it was used. Now I just feel as if my years and years of growing it was worthless.

[nomaxim]

Originally Posted by Emiles

I donated 10 inches of my hair to this place LAST March, as in 2009. The website says they will give you a certificate and I paid extra money for the t-shirt. I have yet to receive ANYTHING from them. If it's truly legit, it's truly run outrageously poorly.

I wish I would have gone with an organization that I could have been assured it was used. Now I just feel as if my years and years of growing it was worthless.

Look at it this way. As a charity the main focus is to help kids in need, not to provide you with a tee shirt. Seriously, which would you do if you had limited resources (ie. money)? Send the hair to the wig manufacturer or send the individual that donated the hair a tee shirt? What would your priority be?

Originally Posted by dr poormouth

Provisionally, I'm categorizing them as White Hats who - for whatever reason - don't care for the BBB.

I agree, there is still nothing I can find to suggest that this is some sort of scam. However, I am concerned about this charities reluctance to provide information to the BBB. The current BBB report says,

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comment
Despite written BBB Wise Giving Alliance requests in the past year, this organization either has not responded to Alliance requests for information or has declined to be evaluated in relation to the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability. While participation in the Alliance’s charity review efforts is voluntary, the Alliance believes that failure to participate may demonstrate a lack of commitment to transparency. Without the requested information, the Alliance cannot determine if this charity adheres to the Standards for Charity Accountability. A charity's willing disclosure of information beyond that typically included in its financial statements and government filings is, in the Alliance's view, an expression of openness that strengthens public trust in the charitable sector.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance reports on national charities and determines if they meet 20 voluntary standards on matters such as charity finances, appeals, and governance. The Alliance does not evaluate the worthiness of the charitable program.

Tax Status
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

Though no business or charity is required to respond to the BBB, I am at a loss to understand why this particular one has not. They (Children with Hair Loss) are only hurting their cause by not responding to the BBB's requests.

See also, Charity-Standards,

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability were developed to assist donors in making sound giving decisions and to foster public confidence in charitable organizations. The standards seek to encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct by charitable organizations and to advance support of philanthropy.

These standards replace the separate standards of the National Charities Information Bureau and the CBBBs' Foundation and its Philanthropic Advisory Service that were in place at the time the organizations merged.

The Standards for Charity Accountability were developed with professional and technical assistance from representatives of small and large charitable organizations, the accounting profession, grant making foundations, corporate contributions officers, regulatory agencies, research organizations and the BBBs. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance also commissioned significant independent research on donor expectations to ensure that the views of the general public were reflected in the standards.

The generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, and Sony Corporation of America helped underwrite the development of these standards and related research.

Organizations that comply with these accountability standards have provided documentation that they meet basic standards:
* In how they govern their organization,
* In the ways they spend their money,
* In the truthfulness of their representations,
* In their willingness to disclose basic information to the public.

These standards apply to publicly soliciting organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and to other organizations conducting charitable solicitations. The standards are not intended to apply to private foundations, as they do not solicit contributions from the public.

Click Charity-Standards for the full text.

[Emiles]

Originally Posted by nomaxim

Look at it this way. As a charity the main focus is to help kids in need, not to provide you with a tee shirt. Seriously, which would you do if you had limited resources (ie. money)? Send the hair to the wig manufacturer or send the individual that donated the hair a tee shirt? What would your priority be?

The point is not that I haven't received the t-shirt (which you have to donate money for, btw), the point was that I heard NOTHING from them after I mailed in my hair. No letter, no certificate as they said, nothing. I have no idea if this place even exists. I assumed after sending it in, they would send some sort of correspondence back because that's what the website says and because other companies and organizations which take hair donations do so. Lots of times they'll inform the donator if they hair could be used, how, and if not, why not so they know in the future.

Truly, I just wish I would have known whether it was legitimate and whether the hair was used. It's a very worthy cause and it was a lot of hair (which takes a lot of time and dedication). If it wasn't used, I would have liked to have given it to some place that I could be ensured would use it.

I, as well, am concerned as to why they have not complied with the BBB.

[marihand]

Yes, this is legit. I've met the owner, she's a member of our church and I've had both my girls donate their hair. In fact, I've posted their pics on their site, Tess and Whitney. She is actually a hair dresser with her own salon but I don't remember the name. She did a fundraiser at the church and that is where my daughter donated hers and the other daughter I mailed it in and got a certificate.

[marihand]

Originally Posted by Emiles

The point is not that I haven't received the t-shirt (which you have to donate money for, btw), the point was that I heard NOTHING from them after I mailed in my hair. No letter, no certificate as they said, nothing. I have no idea if this place even exists. I assumed after sending it in, they would send some sort of correspondence back because that's what the website says and because other companies and organizations which take hair donations do so. Lots of times they'll inform the donator if they hair could be used, how, and if not, why not so they know in the future.

Truly, I just wish I would have known whether it was legitimate and whether the hair was used. It's a very worthy cause and it was a lot of hair (which takes a lot of time and dedication). If it wasn't used, I would have liked to have given it to some place that I could be ensured would use it.

I, as well, am concerned as to why they have not complied with the BBB.

Maybe they didn't get it in the mail?

[Koval]

Originally Posted by Emiles

The point is not that I haven't received the t-shirt (which you have to donate money for, btw), the point was that I heard NOTHING from them after I mailed in my hair. No letter, no certificate as they said, nothing. I have no idea if this place even exists. I assumed after sending it in, they would send some sort of correspondence back because that's what the website says and because other companies and organizations which take hair donations do so. Lots of times they'll inform the donator if they hair could be used, how, and if not, why not so they know in the future.

Truly, I just wish I would have known whether it was legitimate and whether the hair was used. It's a very worthy cause and it was a lot of hair (which takes a lot of time and dedication). If it wasn't used, I would have liked to have given it to some place that I could be ensured would use it.

I, as well, am concerned as to why they have not complied with the BBB.

I am thinking, maybe you give them a call to see if they received your donation.
On the other hand did you send cash in the mail?
Of course you didn't that would be irresponsible,
so maybe you check your checkbook or CC account
and see if your Donated funds for you shirt was ever taken out of the account.
By the way I sent ours in, mid March...
Received both shirts and Cert. end of April. Try calling...it may be a simple oversight, they are human you know...

[valerief]

Yes...please call us...734.379.4400 and we'll sort this out. As far as BBB, it is expensive to get their blessing and we'd rather use the money to help a child. Emiles-I sent you a private message as well. This organization is very legit. I am on the Board and am chairing two different events this year to raise funds. My daughter has received wigs from Children with Hairloss for 4 years now. She's 8 and has alopecia.

Check out this link from a recent newspaper - video included as well.
http://detnews.com/article/20091001/...for-kids--wigs

You'll have to copy and paste it into your browser to view. That's my Gabi!

[Emiles]

Here's what I found from the Oregon Attorney General's office disclosing a list of the 20 worst charities last year:

Children with Hair Loss
South Rockwood, Michigan
$1,128,670 total money
13.68 percent actually went to cause
Purpose: to support children who have
medically-related hair loss.

http://portlandobserver.com/?p=394

There's an interesting note in there about the BBB and its guidelines of not sending more than 35% to management and administrative expenses

[Emiles]

I failed to mention, I emailed the charity several weeks ago and never received a response.