Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office kicks off successful “No Shave” community fundraising campaign

Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam today announced he is kicking off the Sheriff’s Office popular “No Shave” campaign beginning October 1, 2021 and running through January 31, 2022.

“For four months – from October through January – everyone in the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is invited to helps us fundraise for various charities within our community,” said Sheriff Balaam. “These completely voluntary fundraising campaigns are our way to give something small back to a few organizations who support so many members of our community.”

In exchange for a monthly charitable donation, Sheriff Balaam has authorized male deputies to grow facial hair outside standard grooming policy. Female deputies are authorized to have relaxed hair standards. Civilians may either take advantage of the relaxed grooming standards, or wear hats, sports jerseys, and/or attire which supports branches of the United States Armed Forces. 

The Sheriff’s Office has chosen a different recipient for each month. Organizations for this year’s campaign are:

October – Breast Cancer Awareness – Pinocchio’s Moms on the Run
November (Movember) – Men’s Health Awareness – Renown Men’s Health Cancer Institute
December – The late, retired Deputy John Yandall's daughter’s College Fund
January – (50/50 split) Community in Schools Nevada and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Horses Unit

“Moms on the Run has done incredible work for nearly 5,500 women in Northern Nevada,” Sheriff Balaam said about the October recipient. “Things like helping with living expenses, securing wigs for chemotherapy patients, offering meal prep services, and conducting support groups. The Sheriff’s Office family is honored to do something to support women battling breast cancer in our community, and we are pleased that Pinocchio’s Moms on the Run has provided us a wonderful way in which to do that.

“The men and women of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office have also selected a wonderful array of beneficiaries. Not only are we helping a variety of local organizations, but we are also helping those within the Sheriff’s Office family. We recently lost a newly retired Deputy Sheriff – and we are contributing to his daughter’s future by donating to her college fund. Some donations will also be going to our Mounted Horse Unit deputies – who provide their own horses to the community for safety purposes.

“I am extremely proud of the grassroots fundraising our Deputy Sheriffs and civilian staff contribute to members of the community – and I thank each and every one of them for helping us be even stronger community partners.”

BACKGROUND:

Since the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office No Shave Campaign began in 2016, staff has donated nearly $118,000 to a variety of community non-profits, including Susan G. Komen, Renown Men’s Health Center, Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, Awaken Reno, Nevada Cancer Coalition, Northern Nevada COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors), Special Olympics Northern Nevada, the Brittany Hartzell Baguley Memorial Scholarship Fund, and HOPES.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.

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