In an exclusive interview, The Paw Print’s Sydney Carlson sat down with social studies teacher Mr. Ryan Pubentz to learn more about the annual Mustache for Cash fundraiser.

Q: What is Mustache for Cash?
A: “Mustache for Cash is a fundraiser that is designed to generate excitement about raising money for more cancer research by encouraging male staff members to grow out breads and shave it into a fancy little look of a mustache so we can generate funds for a popular cause.”

Q: What charity does the money go to?
A: “The first year we raised money for a local student, Kayla Hoover. Our second year we raised money for Leukemia Lymphoma society. The last year we had a student, Nedal Eid he raised money for Saint Baldricks. So we went with Saint Baldricks.”

Q: Where is the money going to this year?
A: “We haven’t decided on a charity yet.”

Q: How do people donate money
A: “People donate money either to the participants themselves or they can donate money to a donation box which have the pictures of the male staff members with their mustaches and all their glory in the cafeteria during lunch.”

Q: How much money do you plan to raise this year?
A: “We raise over 1,000 dollars it depends on with the year. We have been pretty consistent with being able to raise over $1,000.”

Q: What school did you bring the idea from, and who started the idea?
A: “I brought this idea from Lebanon High School where a group of students tried to figure out a way to make a previous fundraiser more exciting. The young lady who is responsible for actually creating this are Carolyn Spebincky.”

Q: How did the experience go at the other school?
A: “It went fantastic, we had done a previous fundraiser called “Pennies for Patients” and we were never able to generate a whole lot of money for some reason. The mustaches really encege people so we were able to get a whole lot more of money.”

Q: Why did you think it was a good idea to bring it to mayfield?
A: “Mayfield seemed like a perfect place because of whenever there is a new idea everyone at Mayfield tends to embrace it and I thought this would be a perfect place to bring such an exciting fundraiser ‘cause I knew the staff would support it and the students would support it and we would just have a lot of fun.”

Q:How do you plan to get the school involved this year?
A: “This year we are going to try to shake things up and try to get new faces hopefully some new participants. We are going to bring back those who won last year, we also plan to get the females involved this year like we did last year.”

Q: If you know which teachers are involved this year?
A: “Myself Mr. Verdi, Mr. Gynn, Mr. Somich will participate and Mr. Mackar will ‘cause I just had dinner with him and he was growing a beard already but outside of that I will send out an email to find out who is ready to participate.”

Q: Are you planning on changing anything this year if so what?
A: “At this point no there is no major changes we are going to do, I’m always excited to hear what the students have to say or bring to the table. I’m going to ask the key club, now the interact club if they have any new ideas.”

Q: To have mustache for cash be apart of mayfield who did you have to talk to?
A: “I had to talk to Mr.legan to make sure he would support this new fundraiser and he was supportive from the beginning.”

Q: How long has it been part of Mayfield?
A: “This is now are fourth year that we had mustache for cash.”

Q: What type of mustaches win the fundraiser?
A: “It really depends but must of the time it’s the classic mustaches.”

Q: Do you know of any groups outside of schools that do this fundraiser?
A: “I don’t know of actual groups that use it as a fundraiser for themselves. I just know that there are some state and national competition for mustaches.”

Q: Thank you for being my source and letting me interview you.
This is the final question. Do you now of any people who have kept the mustache after the fundraiser?
A: “No, not very many people because they love the individuals in their family more than the mustache.”

The Mustache for Cash fundraiser will occur in the third quarter.  Speak to Mr. Pubentz if you have any questions or suggestions for improving this year’s event.