Great Clips Gives Back

Through ALS Association Support

by Elizabeth Denham

As the owner of Sharpness, Inc., DBA as Great Clips, Million Dollar Mentor Jerry Akers has been partnered with the ALS Association, Iowa Chapter for the last five years raising money to support and elevate the quality of life for those living with this devastating disease and to help support research to improve treatment and eventually find a cure.

“We get into working with causes because it is the right thing to do,” Akers said. “It’s giving back to the community. It’s giving back to populations that could use some extra support. And it’s working with great people like our friends at the ALS Association.”

As a business owner, Akers believes in giving back to the community that gives so much to business owners like him.

“I think we owe it to the community to give back. The community allows us, as franchises to grow and prosper,” he said. “It is the least we can do for those who support us.”

Akers chose ALS Association, Iowa Chapter as a partner because he had previously worked with the Chapter Executive Director Josh Nuss on a Muscular Dystrophy campaign. This was a natural extension as Nuss started working with the ALS group.

“We wanted to bring our customers into it and get them engaged,” he explained. “If you ever see anyone who deals with ALS, you will really want to help out because it is devastating. “We talk about it a lot in the time before we plan the Ice Bucket Challenge each year. Almost everyone who sits in our chairs has known someone who has gone through it, and there is a tremendous emotional involvement with that because of how horrifying this disease is.”

Akers said that now, it takes on a life of its own each and every year. The staff looks forward to it, and it leads to more of a warm and fuzzy feeling with Great Clips’ clients because everyone talks about it and gets excited to help.

I think we owe it to the community to give back. The community allows us, as franchises to grow and prosper.

And Akers is not above a bribe.

“If they raise enough money, they get to dump an ice bucket on a general manager. If they reach a higher amount, they get to dump buckets on my daughters who work the business with me,” Akers explained. “And to get the golden nugget at the end of the rainbow, if they reach the highest threshold, they get to dunk me. It’s a very emotional thing for our entire organization to feel like we are helping a deserving community of people.”

Emily Vanni, Development Director of ALS Association, Iowa Chapter said they have raised more than $50,000 over the years with Akers and his Great Clips organization.

“May is ALS Awareness Month, and we do a point of purchase fundraiser that month with Jerry’s groups,” she said. “When you check out, you can donate and get a coupon for a haircut. They hang buckets in the store to represent donations and get people into it.”

Vanni said that, as many know, ALS is a debilitating disease, and the ASL Association has a goal of making it a livable disease by 2030.

“Four years ago, there was a new treatment that slows the progress of the disease by 33 percent, and that was the first new treatment in 21 years,” she said. “It’s not enough. We want to increase life expectancy, improve the quality of life for people living with ALS and help support them and meet their needs.

Vanni said when you donate through the Iowa chapter, 86 percent goes to the local chapter to support their efforts, and 14 percent goes to national advocacy.

“The average cost to support someone living with ALS is $250,000 per year in out-of-pocket expenses,” she stated. “No one can afford that.”

Akers plans to keep growing his business and, in turn, increasing his ability to give back.

“We have a lot of fun raising money for ASL,” Akers said. “We get enthusiastic and get people excited, but the gravity of the reality of those living with it and their families is always at the forefront of our minds. And we can do more.”

Facts About ALS

• Veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS.

• A bill was recently passed that ALS patients can get SSDI no matter their age.

• Insurance approvals do not keep up with the progression of the disease as it changes quickly.

• There is a 3-4 year life expectancy upon diagnosis.