Sport Clips Hall of Fame Podcast

This episode is with Chris Wiley, a Lt. Colonel in the US Army, and his wife, Samantha. They describe Colonel Wiley's deployment to Iraq, the impact a deployment has on a family, the brain embolism he suffered while in Iraq and Samantha's efforts to fight for his life and for their family once he returned to the States . They also describe how a trip to Sport Clips changed their lives!

In this episode, we interview Jen Richard as part of our "Haircuts with Heart" Series. She is a Help A Hero Scholarship recipient and a Boise State graduate who is currently using her scholarship towards earning her Cosmetology License. Jen is now a Sergeant in the US Army Reserves and details her gripping story of survival from a mortar attack in Afghanistan and the long road of recovery she has bravely traveled. Jen also explains what she hopes to do with her license and how she plans to give back to her fellow veterans.

Since 2013, Sport Clips has been the primary supporter of the VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for service members and veterans for use at post-secondary schools and trade schools. To date, we have awarded more than 1,400 scholarships totaling $6.5 million.

From October 14 through November 11, 2019, Veterans Day, Sport Clips locations around the country will be collecting funds in-store and 100% of donations will be given to the VFW to ensure we can continue to support the educational goals of our service members and veterans. Be sure to visit a Sport Clips over the next month, get the MVP and donate to this worthy cause.

This episode is with Shamaila Taj, the Marketing Director for the Taj Team Leader group in Southern California. In this interview, Shamaila explains what inspired her to coordinate a Shave-A-Thon, the process for becoming a Volunteer Event Organizer with the St. Baldrick's Foundation and the emotional impact of also participating as a shavee.

As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to innovative explorers who bring with them the promise of a future free from childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them.

In 2016, Sport Clips Haircuts proudly signed on as St. Baldrick’s’ first National Partner, committing to give more than $1 million in support of childhood cancer research over the next three years. In 2019, we recommitted our efforts and will donate another $1 million to the organization over the next 3 years.

In this episode, we interview Emtahen Abdullah, the "Barber from Baghdad" who manages IL208. Emtahen describes the cultural and physical obstacles she has overcome throughout her amazing career. She also details her immigration from Iraq after 9/11, how she found a home at Sport Clips and the importance of family.

This episode is with Vinny Antidormi and his family. Vinny is an Honored Child with the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Vinny's parents, Jason and Brenda, walk us through Vinny's cancer diagnosis and treatment, while Vinny and his big brothers, Jake and Luke, share their perspective on how cancer has impacted their family and every day routine.

As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to innovative explorers who bring with them the promise of a future free from childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them.

In 2016, Sport Clips Haircuts proudly signed on as St. Baldrick’s’ first National Partner, committing to give more than $1 million in support of childhood cancer research over the next three years. In 2019, we recommitted our efforts and will donate another $1 million to the organization over the next 3 years.

This episode is with Jane Hoppen, Director of Family Relations for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. In this podcast, Jane describes what drew her to getting involved with St. Baldrick's Foundation, how families are impacted by a cancer diagnosis and what everyone can do to fight childhood cancer.

As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to innovative explorers who bring with them the promise of a future free from childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them.

In 2016, Sport Clips Haircuts proudly signed on as St. Baldrick’s’ first National Partner, committing to give more than $1 million in support of childhood cancer research over the next three years. In 2019, we recommitted our efforts and will donate another $1 million to the organization over the next 3 years.

This episode is an interview with John Kohler, the Area Developer for Michigan, Illinois and Eastern Missouri, a region that includes over 170 Sport Clips locations. John is one of the most widely respected and beloved members of the Sport Clips family, and is celebrating his 15th year as an A.D. In this interview, John shares how he transitioned from a rewarding career in Corporate America to successfully launching Sport Clips in a new market. John also opens up about the importance of teamwork and what he has learned over the years, as well as how his day-to-day role has shifted since he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

This episode is with Scott Lenfestey and his mother Nancy, an Honored Family with the St. Baldrick's Foundation. In this podcast, Scott chronicles his battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the ways cancer research has helped in his remission. Nancy also explains how a family's life is turned upside down with a cancer diagnosis and what they have done to stay positive through it all.

As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to innovative explorers who bring with them the promise of a future free from childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them.

In 2016, Sport Clips Haircuts proudly signed on as St. Baldrick’s’ first National Partner, committing to give more than $1 million dollars in support of childhood cancer research over the next three years. Learn more about St. Baldrick’s by visiting their website, and join us in supporting their important mission! Whether you want to host a St. Baldrick’s signature head-shaving event in your community, or “brave the shave” yourself, there are many ways to get involved!

In the podcast, we mention a few highlights and other organizations. Here’s a link to Scott’s speech at the 6th Congressional Childhood Cancer Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRcRXFN6L1g&t=189s And JUST TRYAN IT seeks to positively impact the lives of families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer by providing them with financial assistance. They help ease the financial burden of childhood cancer families that often struggle to make ends meet during treatment. https://justtryanit.com/

In this episode, we interview Katie Hackney. Katie manages VA206 and was recently named "Rookie Manager of the Year" at the 2019 National Huddle. In this podcast, we hear about her 12 year career at Sport Clips, why she eventually accepted a management role, how she juggles her busy schedule with being a single mom and secrets to her success.

In this episode, we interview Specialist Taylor Clinker as part of our "Haircuts with Heart" Series. Specialist Clinker is recovering from a debilitating leg injury that he suffered in a soccer match while deployed in Germany. He is currently rehabbing at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD and shares with us what that experience is like. We sat down to interview Specialist Clinker following a dinner hosted by the Aleethia Foundation. The mission of the Aleethia Foundation is to support injured service members with therapeutic recreation, small financial grants, family emergency aid, assistive technology items, and home improvements to assist with an injured service member's mobility and other unmet needs. Sport Clips is proud to sponsor “Friday Night Dinners” which provide injured veterans and their families with the opportunity to enjoy a great meal while socializing – an integral part of the healing process. To learn more about the Aleethia Foundation, please visit: www.aleethia.org