Wella, the salon professional division of P&G, proudly announced the 20 inaugural finalists of the Wella “Supports Your Cause” Charity Challenge. A total of $43,000 in grants will be awarded to hairdressers and salon owners who demonstrated compelling dedication to community outreach programs. One grand prize of $10,000, two first prizes of $5,000, four second prizes of $2,500 and thirteen third prizes of $1,000 will be announced June 27^th, 2013.

The Wella “Supports Your Cause” Charity Challenge is part of Wella’s Hairdressers at Heart program, which provides lifetime career support at four critical stages of a hairdresser’s career: student, new talent, working hairdresser and salon owner. Aimed to help hairdressers and salon owners amplify their contributions to charity within their local communities, the competition garnered 112 entries from across North America. Participants submitted videos and essays that revealed their passion and actionable efforts towards causes such as heart disease research, domestic abuse shelters and autism awareness. Finalists were chosen by a combination of web-based public voting and a judging panel of industry experts.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Martino Cartier for Friends Are By Your Side, Martino Cartier Salon, Blackwood, New Jersey

Lorrene Conino for Celebrating All That is Feminine, Salon Lorrene, Lake Zurich, Illinois

Michael John Derricott for Makeovers That Matter, Mj Hair, West Hollywood, California

Jessica Darnell for Women’s Shelter, Studio 135 Salon and Day Spa, Whiteland, Indiana

Maria Dietz for Go Red for Women, Raun Hairdressers and Day Spa, Concord, Ohio

Stephen Graham for Resolution Hope, Eikon Hair Lounge, Wexford, Pennsylvania

James Grubbs for Wounded Wear, Twist Salon, Norfolk, Virginia

Timothy Hays for Lost-N-Found Youth, Inc., Salon Red, Pine Lake, Georgia

David Icard for Wig Bank Of Caldwell County, Bold and Beautiful, Lenoir, North Carolina

Rebecca Lee for Miles Of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, Bella Luci Salon, Pleasant Valley, New York

Deanna Mcculloch for North Cariboo Multi Center, Spa River, Quesnel, British Columbia

Joanie Mcquade for Christine E. Stump Pancreatic Cancer Research, Jmac Hair Studio & Day Spa, Powell, Ohio

Jennifer Miller for Outrun the Sun, A Do Salon & Spa, Carmel, Indiana

Leslie Rice for Mental Health Mental Retardation, Gold Waves Salon, Fort Worth, Texas

Clare Schwartz for Remedies Domestic Violence Shelter, High Maintenance Salon And Spa, Winnebago, Illinois

Jason Schwind for the Vertile Foundation, Wind Salon at Scarlet, Denver, Colorado

Candy Shaw Codner for Hurricane Sandy Victims/The Red Cross, Jamison Shaw Hairdressers, Atlanta, GA

Melissa Stansell for Practice Without Pressure, Inc., The Headquarters, Wilmington, Delaware

Bridgett Vohland for Monroe County Casa, Royale Hair Parlor, Bloomington, Indiana

Denise Wetherell for Pamper for a Purpose, Shear Creations, West Linn, Oregon

The next Wella “Supports Your Cause” Charity Challengewill commence in the spring of 2014. For more information and updates, please, visit www.HairdressersAtHeart.com.