University Police officers on duty at SUNY Poly in Utica will be foregoing facial grooming this month, but they’ll be doing it for a good cause.

In conjunction with the national initiative known as No-Shave November, University Police will bring in donations that will allow them to skip a shave and let their facial hair grow, and those funds will stay local, going to Amazing Gracie’s Gift Foundation.

Established in memory of Gracie Lawton, who died before her second birthday from a rare form of cancer, the foundation focuses on helping children and families through their fight with cancer, providing support, hope, and memories to families fighting pediatric cancer or a life-threatening illness. Memories are one of the most important gifts you can have when your child is faced with a life-threatening disease, and the organization aims to help families create memories that will last a lifetime. They are one of the very few foundations that help families with children under the age of 2 ½ create those everlasting memories.

“I’m proud our University Police officers are positive role models, not only within our campus community, but in the greater community at large as well,” said University Police Chief Gary Bean. “Their departmental request to help provide a community-based starting point to raise funds for Amazing Gracie’s valued organization will hopefully extend to others to give to those in need. We hope their No Shave November brings visible attention to our community and helps show how we can all help make such a difference in the lives of others.”

The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing your hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Then, donating the money typically spent on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.

Those wishing to contribute can drop off their donation of any monetary sum at the University Police Department, located in Kunsela Hall on the Utica Campus of SUNY Polytechnic Institute.