Beards for Books is Back!

Grow It. Shave It. Save It.
March 1–31

A high-energy March fundraiser supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties.

Sign Up to Be a Champion
Support a Champion

What is Beards for Books?

Beards for Books is a fun, community-powered fundraiser where participants rally their friends, families, and coworkers to support early literacy. Throughout March, our Champions grow or shave their beards while raising funds to help keep monthly books in the hands of local children.

It’s visible.
It’s competitive.
And it makes a real difference.

3 Ways to Participate:

Grow It.

Start March 1 and shave at the end for the kids.

Shave It.

Start clean and grow it out — then decide your final look.

Save It.

Set a fundraising goal to keep your beard intact. Hit your goal and the beard stays.

Why This Matters

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library delivers a free, high-quality book each month to enrolled children at no cost to families.

That book in the mailbox builds vocabulary, strengthens family routines, sparks imagination, and helps children walk into kindergarten ready to learn.

Thousands of local children across Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties look forward to that moment each month — and Beards for Books helps keep it going.

As funding landscapes shift and costs rise, community-powered efforts ensure the books keep coming.

Meet Our Champions!

Ryan Bennett!

David Cook!

DJ Hilson!

Bruce Walters!

Gary Nelund!

Jason Finch!

John VanWyck!

Theo Rumsey-Warner!

Mike Weesies!

Serving Muskegon, Newaygo & Oceana Counties

Beards for Books supports children across all three counties. Whether you’re growing a beard, cheering on a Champion, or sharing this page, you’re helping local kids build a lifelong love of reading right here at home. Champions raising for Muskegon & Oceana Counties will support the United Way of the Lakeshore affiliated program and champions raising for Newaygo County will support the NCRESA affiliated program.

Champion Help Center

You’re not doing this alone. Use the resources below to build momentum, stay engaged, and have fun with it.

  • Post at least once a week throughout March. Momentum builds when people see progress.

    • Share your starting beard photo

    • Announce your fundraising goal

    • Celebrate milestones (25%, 50%, 75%)

    • Remind supporters in the final week

    Consistency = donations.

  • Post 1:
    I’m a Beards for Books Champion this March! I’m raising funds to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally. Want to help keep books in the mailbox? [INSERT YOUR LINK]

    Post 2:
    Mid-month check-in: the beard is growing and so is the fundraiser! Help me hit my goal for local early literacy: [INSERT YOUR LINK]

    Post 3:
    Final week! If I hit my goal, I might Save My Beard… or the razor wins. Either way, local kids win. Support here: [INSERT YOUR LINK]

  • Subject: Quick ask — help me support local kids

    Hi [Name],

    I’m participating in Beards for Books this March to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally. I’m raising funds to help keep monthly books coming to kids across Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties.

    If you’re able, I’d appreciate your support:
    [INSERT YOUR LINK]

    Thank you!
    [Your Name]

  • We use Zeffy because it allows nonprofits to fundraise without platform fees.

    At checkout, Zeffy suggests an OPTIONAL contribution (up to 17%) to support their platform. Donors can adjust that amount to anything they choose — including zero.

  • If someone prefers to give cash or a check, that’s absolutely okay.

    Drop it off at our office or email Amber at Amber@unitedwaylakeshore.org ahead of time.

    To credit your total, please send:
    • Donor name
    • Total amount

    We will manually add it to your fundraising page.