School staffers grow beards, students raise money for cancer research

By Dylan Scott

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 | 4:35 p.m.

He may wear it like a pro, but less than a month ago, Harry Merrifield, a sixth-grade teacher at Hank and Barbara Greenspun Junior High, was clean-shaven. He had not a speck of facial hair.

But, like many of the rest of the school's students and faculty, Merrifield saw a worthwhile cause in the American Cancer Society and, with five colleagues, volunteered for the school's beard-growing contest.

On Friday, Merrifield took home the title of best beard to the screams of his students at the school's holiday assembly.

But the real winner was the American Cancer Society: Greenspun students raised $2,200 for the society's efforts since Nov. 29, when Merrifield and the others let their faces go and students started raising money.

"Curiosity," Merrifield said, was part of his motivation to volunteer. Sometime in the past, he had grown a moustache, he said, but the last month was the first time he let the rest fill in. Now, his healthy salt-and-pepper beard looks like it's always been there.

"I wanted to see what I looked like. It's not like I'm a young man anymore," he added with a laugh.

He also felt a personal connection to the cause: Merrifield said he lost his father to cancer.

"I figured if I got involved then the kids would respond," he said, "and they did."

Will he keep it? Merrifield said he's "undecided" at this point. His wife "would probably prefer" him without it, he said with a smile, but he plans to leave it through the holiday as family comes into town.

David Jackson, a seventh-grade science teacher; John Mihelcic, sixth-grade science; Dean Giangrosso, art; Anthony Moffett, eighth-grade social studies; and Jared Anderson, speech interpreter, also sacrificed their faces for the cause.

Shawna McNabb, a computer technology teacher and adviser to the school's student council, said they selected the American Cancer Society for their donations when they realized how many students and teachers knew a loved one affected by the disease.

McNabb said she also lost her father to cancer, and she was proud of the enthusiasm the students showed in collecting pledges over the last month.

"Obviously, it makes us feel good," McNabb said. "It's very heartwarming to know we're going out and trying to save lives."

Students from Merrifield's fifth and second period classes, along with Ms. Towery's second period class, earned pizza parties next semester for being the top three fundraisers in the school.

Rochelle Samilin-Jurani, community relationship manager for the American Cancer Society, said the organization was "honored" to be the recipient of the school's goodwill. The money will go to efforts to raise awareness and support research to "fight back" against cancer.

The group has also set up a toll-free hotline, 1-800-ACS-2345, with "a wealth of information" for those interested, she said.