Cover Your Chin Celebrates 5 Years of Growing and Giving

It has been another great year for Cover your Chin for Charity! Congratulations to Ron Vener, who won King of the evening by raising over $5,000 toward three charities; Kids, Pets, and Vets. Ron is a Wye River upper school teacher and received over 90 separate donations, making him the highest one-man total in event history! Charitable giving went to Care packs of Talbot County ($9,285), MCTC Veterans fund. ($11,200), Tree of life ($4,235), and the in-house Nate Southworth Humanitarian Fund ($4,150), respectively.

Cover Your Chin for Charity was started by Andrew Southworth, Joel Shilliday, and Adam Theeke as a fun way to bring friends together, grow some facial hair and compete for a good cause. Operated through Mid-Shore Community Foundation, CYCC has now collected and given away over $100,000 in its first five years. To enter, a contestant has only to register on the website, decide their growth category, and raise money towards one of all of the charities. It has grown into an annual event that is loved by the men, and tolerated by the ladies!

This year’s closing ceremony, known as the best party of the year, brought hundreds of donors to the Waterfowl building on January 20th for a fantastic evening of entertainment. Dozens of growers strutted their stuff on the stage and brought down the house! The existing beard category win was taken by Howard Bogac, followed by best mustaches, Mike Harris/Clay Buritsch, and best partial beard went to Councilman Ron Engle. CYCC’s final category, full beard, buzzed with the competition. Judges deliberated long and hard, but Josh Clow, with an amazing Hank Williams Junior impression, came out on top! Thanks to ALL of the growers, sponsors, and friends/family that donated. Hope to see all of you again next year!