Martino Cartier is all about paying it forward and granting wishes and making people happy and all those other good things. With a goal to have the salon community join forces and take the pledge to restore dignity to women who've lost their hair to chemotherapy, members of Martino's foundation "Friends Are By Your Side" offer free wigs and salon services to those affected. Hundreds of salons have signed on to make that dream a reality and hundreds of cancer patients have been aided by participating salons.

Martino is expanding the foundation with a kick off gala called "Wigs and Wishes". "The purpose is to to raise funds and awareness for Friends Are By Your Side," says Martino, "with proceeds going to grant wishes for women and children battling cancer and suffering hair loss." More than 600 people are expected to attend Wigs and Wishes with a growing celebrity guest list already including Tabatha Coffey, Mary Sciarrone (Cake Boss), Gayle Giancomo and the cast of Jerseylicious.

Tickets go for $125 for presale ($150 after that). The event will take place at Lucien's Manor in Berlin, NJ, just outside Philadelphia, Pa. Entertainment will be provided by Don't Call Me Francis. According to Martino, the event will be chock full of surprises and fun.

for tickets or to become a participating salon, go to: Friendsarebyyourside.com