Can someone tell me what's wrong witrh locks of love?

[Summertime Mommy]

I know I have seen it mentioned on the boards before, but for some reason the search tool isn't working. So, I was wonderring if anyone could tell me why I shouldn't donate my hair to locks of love? Also, is there any other charity that makes wigs that might want my hair? I was going to cut my hair sometime last month, but it is almost long enough to donate so I was gonna wait and do that, but if they are not a good charity, and I can't find anywhere else to donate my hair to, I'm gonna go ahead and cut it. Thanks!

[girlndocs]

Here is a thread that discusses their financial practices:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ght=locks+love

One person's various reasons why she would never donate:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/messa...eid=1099684836

Post #4 here has a really good rundown of different unsavory aspects:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ght=locks+love

We disapprove of Locks of Love because: ...
... They make far fewer wigs than the number of ponytails they collect would supply, and seem to have no valid explanation for this disparity ...
... Most of the donated hair does NOT wind up on a child's head. It is sold to commercial wigmakers who are selling their wigs to models, celebrities, etc., or sits in a warehouse ...

... A little math using information from LoL's own website and the BBB:
LoL receives about 2000 donations per week, by mail.
That's 104,000 per year.
It takes 6-10 ponytails to make a wig.
Ok, let's say each one takes 10.
That's potentially 10,400 wigs per year.
Now, in fiscal year 2002, how many wigs did LoL provide?


113.

There is another org called Wigs 4 Kids but they also do not meet the BBB's standards for charitable solicitations.

If you want to cut your hair, then cut it, and if you want to donate the cut hair, donate it, just know that what you're really donating is a small sum of money that will pay the salary of some administrative worker or something.

I personally, if I cut off a bunch of my hair, would rather eBay it myself and send the money to an organization that actually does research for a *cure*, not just making itchy, expensive, hard-to-care-for wigs for kids who usually prefer hats or scarves anyway.

If you knit, tie-dye or sew, you could also donate caps or scarves to these kids. And if ya wanna pull out the heavy artillery, donate bone marrow. You can find a bank to type you at www.marrow.org.

And if you give LoL the benefit of the doubt, and really feel a pull to help them put wigs on bald kids, then it looks like it would be more helpful to send money instead, since they have lots and lots of hair and I would assume it costs money to have the wigs made.

[BelovedK]

Interesting, i didn't know that. Bummer, i'm a hairstylist and i reccomend locks to people, well no more. :

[annettemarie]

I've donated to locks of love, and probably would again. Despite the flaws, it's still better than throwing it out, IMO.

[fire_in_july]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I've donated to locks of love, and probably would again. Despite the flaws, it's still better than throwing it out, IMO.

I respectfully disagree. I would rather throw away my hair than ever support locks of love.

Of course I am *rabidly* opposed to locks of love. If anyone wants an alternative to throwing out their hair, please please consider selling it to a wigmaker yourself, auctioning it on Ebay, whatever, and then donating the money earned to a reputable charity - or directly to a kid suffering from cancer/hair loss!

[Celtain]

my dd1 has donated her hair twice to LoL. While I would be dissappointed if it were true that they didn't use the hair to the fullest potential, I think that it has been really good for her to learn about donating and the greater good.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by fire_in_july

I respectfully disagree. I would rather throw away my hair than ever support locks of love.

Of course I am *rabidly* opposed to locks of love. If anyone wants an alternative to throwing out their hair, please please consider selling it to a wigmaker yourself, auctioning it on Ebay, whatever, and then donating the money earned to a reputable charity - or directly to a kid suffering from cancer/hair loss!

Who are you, exactly? Could you explain WHY you are "rabidly" opposed to locks of love?

[annettemarie]

Oh, and I wanted to add- I would not take the time to sell it to a wigmaker, or put it on ebay. I just wouldn't. My options for my life would be
1. Throw it away
2. Put it out for the birdies to make nests
3. Give it to Locks of Love

If I was going to throw it out anyway, and there was even a chance they might make good use of it, I'm going to send it to them. After all, I donate clothes to a rescue mission. Some are given to needy families, and some are sold to support the mission.

Now, granted, I did not read through all the links, but the big problem seems to be this:

11: Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

In response to the Alliances request for a copy of LoLs financial statements, LoL submitted a copy of its Independent Accountants Compilation Report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002. To meet this Standard, an organization with total annual income of over $250,000 should have, available on request, financial statements that have been audited.


In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested, but did not receive, complete information on LoL's finances, and therefore, is unable to verify LoL's compliance with the following Standard for Charitable Accountability: 14.

Which is troublesome. But there isn't another charity where I can just send my hair (and I have long hair and have done LoL several times) and even if it's not a perfect solution, it seems to make more sense to me than throwing it away.

[fire_in_july]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Who are you, exactly? Could you explain WHY you are "rabidly" opposed to locks of love?

Well, girlndocs above has a long list of quotes and links in her post that explain locks of love's unsavory practices. I'm sorry that I didn't feel the need to quote it all twice.

I disagree with their less-than-honest financial reporting practices.
I disagree with the way they promote themselves and what they do dishonestly.
I disagree that they use the image of "poor little sick kids" to get people to CUT OFF A PART OF THEIR BODY. Poor little sick kids who are not even getting helped to the extent that LoL portrays. It's one thing to donate hair that you were going to cut anyway (though I don't think anyone should donate that hair to LoL) but it's another thing to imply, as they do sometimes and allow their participating salons/ads/news articles/etc. to do, that the ONLY valid reason to grow long hair is that you can cut it off and donate it.

I just look at the numbers and am appalled - at the number of ponytails donated versus the actual number of wigs given to kids.

And I don't know what is up with your "who are you exactly?" question. I respectfully disagreed with you. I did not attack you. I simply stated the truth - that in MY opinion, it would be better to throw away the hair than support such an organization. I also gave a few alternatives to both of the aforementioned options.

[fire_in_july]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Which is troublesome. But there isn't another charity where I can just send my hair (and I have long hair and have done LoL several times) and even if it's not a perfect solution, it seems to make more sense to me than throwing it away.

If it makes sense to you, by all means, go ahead. I was just presenting my point of view and hoping that it might make some people think twice. IMO your birdie nest idea is a better one - but you of course have the right to do as you like.

And the most troublesome to me is not the point you mentioned - it's actually this:

"... A little math using information from LoL's own website and the BBB:
LoL receives about 2000 donations per week, by mail.
That's 104,000 per year.
It takes 6-10 ponytails to make a wig.
Ok, let's say each one takes 10.
That's potentially 10,400 wigs per year.
Now, in fiscal year 2002, how many wigs did LoL provide?


113. "


This appalls me. That women and girls are being encouraged to cut off their hair and donate it to an organization with THIS kind of record!

[sistermama]

I just went and read their 990 from 2004, which is the form they have to file with the IRS every year. I found a number of things on it which are considered a red-flag in the nonprofit world. For example, the majority of the executive director's salary is listed as a "program service" cost as opposed to a "management and general" cost. If you move just that item to its proper column, it boosts their admin costs up to 37%. Admin costs should not be more than 20% in a well run nonprofit. There are several other questionable allocations that would probably boost that number much higher. For example, their office occupancy costs are listed under program, but should also be under management and general. All their printing costs are listed under program, and I bet those should be listed under fundraising.

Another thing I see that they are doing is bringing in LOTS more money than they are expending. For example, just last year they generated $350,000 more than they used, which is just sitting in an account somewhere now. Is there a shortage of people who need their service? They now have cash assets of over $1million.

Guidestar.org is a great resource to look up financial info about EVERY nonprofit in the country.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by fire_in_july

I

"... A little math using information from LoL's own website and the BBB:
LoL receives about 2000 donations per week, by mail.
That's 104,000 per year.
It takes 6-10 ponytails to make a wig.
Ok, let's say each one takes 10.
That's potentially 10,400 wigs per year.
Now, in fiscal year 2002, how many wigs did LoL provide?


113. "


This appalls me. That women and girls are being encouraged to cut off their hair and donate it to an organization with THIS kind of record!

I get what you're saying. You just seemed so strident (or rabid, in your words! :LOL ) that I wondered if you had some sort of personal bad experience,

The site girlndocs linked to, and now you, is the first place I have ever heard of women and girls being encouraged or pressured to cut off their hair and give it to locks of love. Is this a common occurance? I have hair halfway down my back, and have never felt coerced into cutting it off for locks of love. Is this a common occurance?

[fire_in_july]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I get what you're saying. You just seemed so strident (or rabid, in your words! :LOL ) that I wondered if you had some sort of personal bad experience,

The site girlndocs linked to, and now you, is the first place I have ever heard of women and girls being encouraged or pressured to cut off their hair and give it to locks of love. Is this a common occurance? I have hair halfway down my back, and have never felt coerced into cutting it off for locks of love. Is this a common occurance?

Thanks. I admit I do get rabid on this topic.

I don't know about everywhere, but in MY area it is quite common to be pressured to cut off hair for LoL. I would not like LoL regardless because of their other practices, but I suppose that this pressure adds to my "rabidity." :-)

I have waist-length hair and have frequently been stopped and told "your hair is so beautiful, are you growing it to donate to LoL?" Huh? I couldn't possibly be growing it just because I like my hair long, eh?
Or in a salon when getting a 1/2" trim - "You know, we are a partner salon with Locks of Love - if you would like to go shorter and cut 10 inches (!!) we can donate it to them!" With no disclosure brochures from LoL or anything - just a "partnership."

I have seen ads from LoL in salons and whatnot where they pretty much come out and say that you *should* cut your long hair off and donate it to a "needy" child. I really abhor that LoL is at worst actively perpetuating and at best not saying anything against, this idea that a woman would only grow long hair to donate it - that growing it for her own "use" and enjoyment is somehow selfish or vain.

So between this attitude and their smashingly inadequate business and actual wig-giving practices, yes, that's why I find LoL so abhorrent!

And I am just a "fiery" person in general - if I am for or against an issue, I am usually REALLY for or REALLY against it. {{tries to put smiley here, tries and tries she does, but cannot figure them out yet! off to research now!}}

[annettemarie]

PREMATURE POSTING

[annettemarie]

Every time I see LoL I think this is a much more cheerful thread than it actually is. :LOL << LOL guy

I see what you are saying. It just must not be as prevalant here, but I would be annoyed, too.

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Well, not that this excuses anything, but from what I heard, not all donations received are acceptable...some are damaged/dyed, some too short, some not in a ponytail, etc....

Could this have anything to do with the descrepency?

(as in, it could easily be said about me that I receive 30 maternity outfits every 2 months for an average of 180 outfits per year, yet I only donate about 50 per year. that would be very accurate, if you left out the part that the other 130 outfits are so badly stained or ripped that I have to throw them out or donate them to be made into rags)

And, uh, how would one list their hair on ebay....I'll go check that out. I have a nice ponytail that I was gonna mail in to LoL....but could really use some money.....Hmmm

Kelly

[sistermama]

Originally Posted by CookieMonsterMommy

Well, not that this excuses anything, but from what I heard, not all donations received are acceptable...some are damaged/dyed, some too short, some not in a ponytail, etc....

Could this have anything to do with the descrepency?


Kelly

I could see that happening, but they did make $325,000 just last year over what was sold, so.....

[TiredX2]

I actually knew all about LoL's dismal record and still chose to donate my hair to them this spring.

Why? Because, as AM, mentioned the other choice was throwing it away. And I got a free hair cut :

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Originally Posted by sistermama

I could see that happening, but they did make $325,000 just last year over what was sold, so.....

I see.....sad...

Any way they're also using that money to run the website, pay the people who assemble the wigs, pay for the cost of assembling the wigs( as in rental space, machines, electricity).....?

[AdinaL]

I have actually ventilated a wig before (ventilated means to put the hair in the lace thatt is used to attach it.) And truthfully, most american hair is NOT strong enough to withstand it. Partialy bcause we wash our hair so often, dye it, etc., etc.

Some of it may not withstand being made into a wig but might withstand being made into a facial hair piece for theatre/movies/entertainment. Shorter lengths are used, less strength is neccessary.

These factors might play into why so few are made and why they sell so much off.

If, in fact, EVERY single ponytail was acceptable as use for a wig....then yes the discrepancy would bother me as well. But since I doubt that is the case.

I just wanted to throw that out there as information.

I honestly don't know enough about them to defend them or not... I have never donated my hair as I have never cut that much off at one time.