8-31-2020 2:33pm

Local Musician Changes His Look For A Good Cause

Rick Amburgey Neighbor

Photo contributed.

Local musician Jacob William has been known for his great country voice and his long hair. He played at Railroad Days on Friday night with his brother as a part of the Burress Brothers and he played solo on Saturday night. When he showed up at The Barrel in Springboro to play at Acoustapalooza on Sunday, he looked noticeably different. He had short hair.

The Franklin Township resident said he hadn't had a haircut in five years and he was ready for a change. Jacob William asked his neighbor Kayla Gibson, who is a hairdresser, to cut his hair. He decided to donate his hair and donated 22 inches of hair to Wigs For Kids. The change was so remarkable that some people didn't recognize him with short hair.

According to the Wigs For Kids website, the non-profit organization was founded by hairdresser Jeffrey Paul in 1981. He was inspired to start it after his teenage niece begged him to stop her hair from falling out, which was an effect from her chemotherapy. He created a wig for her in time for her to try out for the gymnastics team. He didn't stop there. He started an organization to help children like his niece have wigs that look like real hair. The website said it takes about 20 to 30 ponytails to make a single wig. The value of their wigs is about $1,800, but the families who receive them aren't charged anything.

Jacob William liked that point about the organization. "I picked Wigs for Kids because they don’t charge for the wigs they make. Some other organizations made people buy the wigs," he said.