Bald for Bucks began as a philanthropic endeavor in 2002, when Lake Shore high school teacher Tony George shaved his head in honor of his sister Cathleen, when his sister’s cancer came back, Tony made a vow. He shaved his head in honor of Cathleen’s battle and would not let his hair grow back until hers did. When his students realized what he was doing, they wanted to join in to make a difference. They began collecting donations before shaving their heads. With this the Bald for Bucks community was born! Since then this event has spread all over Western New York and has raised more than $6 million dollars for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo New York.
In 2013 brother Phil Frankino (pictured above) ’16 brought this event to the Fredonia campus, Phil a Lake Shore Highschool graduate saw firsthand the impact Bald for Bucks has had on the Western New York Community and decided to bring this event to the Fredonia campus. Since then this annual tradition has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research and patient care programs for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer. After graduation Phil continued his academic journey at the University of California, Berkeley. Despite the geographical distance, his dedication to philanthropy remained unwavering. Phil’s legacy at Fredonia lived on, as Bald for Bucks became an annual tradition that brothers look forward to every year. Cancer effects everyone and the past few years the effects of this horrible disease has really hit home for us, In 2022 we lost our Founding Father Michael Milano ’82 and this Past December we lost brother Michael “Sean” June’89 two great men who made many contributions to our chapter.
Our 11th Annual Bald for Bucks Event will be taking place on Tuesday April 23rd and our donation link is below for any donation big or small any amount helps.
https://give.roswellpark.org/site/TR?team_id=18883&fr_id=1870&pg=team