Going pink for a cause; Hormel’s Fritz dyes hair, mustache as part of $10K fund challenge
Published 10:24 am Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Tim Fritz has his hair dyed pink Tuesday morning, the result of a fundraising challenge with plant employees for Paint the Town Pink. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hormel Food Corps. Plant Manager Tim Fritz sat in a swivel chair Tuesday facing away from a large mirror, repeating one phrase: “It’s all for a good cause, it’s all for a good cause.”
He had good reason because in front of a packed Essence Salon, Fritz was taking the payment for a dare to employees — raise $10,000 for Paint the Town Pink and he would dye his hair and mustache pink.
Tim Fritz closes his eyes and grimmaces after seeing the end result of his pink dye job Tuesday morning at the Essence Salon. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
For another year, plant employees and the Helping Hands Committee began a fund drive to raise money for the annual event, with money going to The Hormel Institute.
In the past the plant has often proved the clout it has when raising money for various objectives and so when the helping hands committee began looking for a new way to raise money, an idea formed:
Essentially, what would it take for Fritz to take on the dye job?
Tim Fritz has his hair dyed by Essence Salon stylist Wendi Howe Tuesday morning, the end result of a fund drive by Hormel plant employees.
“I challenged the wrong people,” Fritz admitted. “They are passionate about raising money for breast cancer research.”
The final total for the drive came in at $10,547 dollars. This is additional money was put toward an overall plant goal of $20,000 dollars.
“This is really engaging for people,” Fritz said.
And so after about 20 minutes or so, stylist Wendi Howe was ready to make the reveal with another chant of, “It’s all for a good cause.”
While taking the effort in stride and completing his end of the agreement, Fritz couldn’t help but to be a little shocked when his chair was turned.
“It’s pink. It’s really pink,” he said. “The Joker, Easter — all sorts of things are running through my head.”
