This holiday season, Elle Marie Hair Studio and the MAC Foundation (Make a Change) have joined forces to purchase new bicycles for children in need in Snohomish County. Elle Marie is donating 5% of all retail sales until December 31st to the MAC Foundation. With the support of their guests, Elle Marie will help deliver a message of hope to children less fortunate this Christmas. The bicycles will be distributed to children throughout Snohomish County through the help of the Toys for Tots program.
Marysville resident, Chris Mallahan, is the driving force behind the MAC Foundation. “Our organization was founded in memory of my father, a World War II vet who always gave to those in need. We are small but we work hard,” says Mallahan. “We are all volunteer and 100% of our donations are spent purchasing bicycles at Christmas for children in need.”
Additional partners for the fund drive include the Washington State Patrol, Snohomish County Sheriffs and numerous friends and family.
The bicycles will be donated in the memory of Trooper Sean O’Connell, who gave service with the ultimate sacrifice earlier this year while working a detour detail around the Skagit River Bridge collapse. The new Skagit River Bridge is being dedicated in Trooper O’Connell’s name on December 6th. A number of his family members will be flying in for the event. The Toys for Tots drop off will occur at this time as well. The bridge dedication will begin at 10:45 a.m., lasting an hour and a half. Following the dedication, family and media are invited to the Marysville State Patrol Office where the bicycles and toys will be displayed with helmets on handlebars. They will then be loaded on trucks and transported to the Everett Mall where they will be presented in Trooper O’Connell’s name to Toys for Tots who will be holding an event featuring Star Wars characters and more!
Money raised through Elle Marie’s retail fundraiser after the dedication event will be put toward the 2014 holiday season.
About MAC Foundation
The Make a Change Foundation is an all volunteer nonprofit organization with 100% of donations used to purchase bikes for less fortunate children in our community.
Additional information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/makeachangesnohoco
In addition, a video documenting last year’s efforts can be found here: http://vimeo.com/56434864