Press

STERLING, Ill. (Oct. 30, 2025) – Kevin Simmons from Gainesville, GA, is a pediatric speech pathologist who also volunteers as a sensory barber through ConnectAbility, a charity that offers support for individuals with disabilities and their families. As the winner of the Wahl® Benevolent Beards Contest, Simmons will receive $5,000 for himself, $20,000 for the charity and he’ll also be crowned the new Wahl® Man of the Year at a FREE beard grooming event during the Atlanta Hawks basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Now in its fourth year, the goal of this contest is to celebrate bearded men who combine good grooming with goodwill, and Simmons is a perfect example of this. He has first-hand knowledge of ConnectAbility’s impact, as the charity serves many of the children he treats. His connection with the kids helped him recognize the need for an alternative to the often anxiety-inducing experience of traditional haircuts, so he provides a haircutting experience that’s comfortable for those with sensory sensitivities.

Facial Haired Fans Wanted at Hawks Game

In celebration of Simmons’ win, Wahl® will park its giant Mobile Barbershop outside State Farm Arena on game-day Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, from 4:30 – 8 p.m. EST. All whiskers are welcome to visit the barbershop for FREE beard trims. Once the game starts at 8 p.m. EST, the FREE beard trims will move inside to The SWAG Shop where ticketed fans can watch the action on the court from four barber’s chairs.

About the Wahl® Benevolent Beards Contest

The contest is part of the grooming company’s ongoing mission to recognize and reward those who embody their philosophy of making the world a better – or ‘bearder’ – place to live. A wealth of whiskered men from across America submitted videos of themselves either explaining or demonstrating how they support a charity. What kind of charity? As long as it is a 501(c)(3) organization with a goal to impact the world positively, all charities were considered. Five finalists were chosen, and America’s votes helped decide the winner. According to Simmons, he’s overwhelmed by the number of family, friends and acquaintances who embraced his cause and voted for him. He’s also proud to be among the following runners-up, who have all spread bearded benevolence in their own unique ways:

• Miguel Delvalle from Hartford, CT, once struggled with homelessness but he worked his way up to opening a barbershop in 2020. His path took a prophetic turn when he realized his shop was next to a homeless shelter. As he was getting the shop ready to open, men from the shelter would stop by for a free haircut. Word of his generosity soon spread and increased demand for free haircuts led him to launch the first ‘No Hair Left Behind’ event, and eventually to establish his own 501(c)(3) charity Scissors Society, Inc.
• Darren Thompson from Washington, D.C., decided his underserved community deserved a dog park, so in 2017 he established the East River Dog Park Group. After many years of hard work, this group of dog-loving neighbors finally cut the ribbon on their dog park on May 10, 2024. While they were working on the dog park, they decided to address other inequities, including outdoor movie nights, free breakfasts for school-age kids, teacher appreciation efforts and much more. The charity is on a roll with no plans to stop and is currently working to bring a farmers’ market to their community. 
•  Jesse Presson from Charlottesville, VA, is a U.S. Army veteran who knows firsthand the physical, mental and emotional challenges many veterans face once they come home. After leaving the military, Jesse struggled with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD; however, after undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), he experienced life-changing results. He now works for the Hyperbaric Wellness Foundation and is a passionate advocate for the foundation’s mission to make HBOT accessible to all veterans, especially those who may not have the means or know where to turn.
• Ryan Saunders from Seattle, WA, is the managing director of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), a charity that serves as an inclusive launchpad for the next generation of filmmakers. More than just a film festival, it’s a collaborative space where young creators across socio-economic backgrounds can connect and build lasting relationships that fuel their careers. By centering peer-to-peer connection, the organization is empowering youth to drive systemic change and build a new, more representative vanguard for the film world.

For more information about the Wahl® Benevolent Beards Contest, or for facial hair tips and tools visit WahlUSA.com or follow @WahlGrooming on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. And to learn more about how you can further support the contest participants’ causes, visit their respective charity websites.

About Wahl® Grooming

Celebrating its 106th anniversary, Wahl® continues to help men look and feel their best with innovative products manufactured to define and elevate the men’s grooming category. The company set the standard with the first-ever practical electric hair clipper in 1919, and later strengthened its leadership with the world’s first battery-powered facial hair trimmer. It’s this continued commitment to excellence that has solidified Wahl’s® place as the world’s go-to brand for men’s grooming solutions. For more information, visit WahlUSA.com. 

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