Police grow beards to raise money and grant children’s wishes

PARMA – Throughout November, many Parma Police Department officers will be growing beards for their fourth annual No-Shave WishVember.

Four years ago, Patrol Officer Jason Piazza contacted A Special Wish Foundation Cleveland Chapter, a charity that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses across greater Cleveland.

“We connected with A Special Wish leaders to start a no-shave fundraiser. We wanted to identify a specific wish child to help grant his or her wish and name it, “No-Shave WishVember,” Piazza said. “The first year, we raised enough money to grant a little girl’s wish to swim with dolphins in Orlando.”

This year, Bay Village, Berea, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Chagrin Falls, Euclid, MetroHealth, Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Pepper Pike, Rocky River and Warrensville Heights police departments are joining the Parma police and competing to see which department can raise the most money.

“These officers have created deserving memories for these children battling life-threatening illnesses that their families will never forget,” said Eileen Lane, executive director of A Special Wish Foundation Cleveland Chapter.

For more details about No-Shave WishVember, visit www.Police4Wishes.org.