Hairy Charity Practices: Maovember Turns Your Scruff Into Something Better
Using small change for big change is the principal behind the annual Maovember charity campaign. The "mao" refers to the coins worth a tenth of a renminbi – not much on their own, but they add up quickly. The idea is that minor donations can lead to major results. Since Maovember launched in 2013, it has helped with everything from furnishing reading rooms in needy schools to financing cataract surgeries for the elderly in rural China.
This year's campaign runs the duration of November, from the pin launch party at XL Restaurant & Bar on Nov 1 to the closing bash at Paddy O'Shea's on the Nov 30. The charity partners are The Library Project, which furnishes those reading rooms, and Bread of Life, a bakery that trains and employs disabled people. And while the campaign started in Beijing, events have since been held in other major cities like Shanghai, Taipei, and Tianjin.
Maovember is a team effort of bars, restaurants, suppliers, and customers. While some funds are raised via personal donations and Maovember pin sales, most come from events. The strategy is for bars, restaurants or shops to feature a drink or food special as well as an activity like a pub quiz, road hockey shootout or poker, corn toss or beer pong tournament. Given that the name Maovember is also a spin on the annual "Movember" charity initiative, during which men worldwide grow mustaches during November, more than a few events revolve around facial hair. In any case, Maovember policy is that all work is done by volunteers and, in turn, all funds raised go to charity.
Given its focus, Maovember attracts a diverse group of supporters, including many entrepreneurs. This mish-mash of people typically results in a campaign with elements of chaos and creativity. Take a simple event last year to decide whether or not Thierry de Dobbeleer, then owner of Beer Mania, should shave his substantial beard. Expected to be a low-key affair, it saw a flurry of activity and passionate debate between the "shave" and "no shave" camps that raised over RMB 20,000, nearly ten times the anticipated amount. (In case you missed it, the "shave" vote won and Thierry had his beard shaved immediately after the money was counted.) This kind of event, featuring an entrepreneur, more than a hundred donors and a great deal of fun, is what Maovember is all about. You can get more info on this year's campaign at thebeijinger.com and maovember.com.
Photos courtesy of Jim Boyce
