Educating the Hair Industry, Educating the Public, Empowering Community
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A Q1–Q2 2026 Pace Check: Where We‘ve Been, What‘s Next
Dear Barcos Community,
Transparency is one of the values we hold most tightly at Barcos Foundation — with the barbers and students we serve, and with you, the supporters who make our work possible. As we close out the first half of 2026, we wanted to give you a candid look at where our energy went, what our finances actually look like, and what‘s ahead as we move into a busy Q3 and Q4.
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Where Our Focus Was: Q1–Q2
Rather than formal grant applications, the first half of the year was spent building relationships and visibility across Detroit‘s civic and philanthropic community — groundwork that we believe strengthens everything we do going forward. Founding President Ashley Ramirez represented Barcos at:
- Mayor Mary Sheffield‘s Inaugural Ball (Jan. 9, Detroit) — benefiting the Homeless Action Network of Detroit
- The Detroit Auto Show Charity Preview (Jan. 16, Huntington Place) — benefiting Detroit PAL and five other children‘s charities
- The DPSCD Foundation Gala (May 16) — supporting career pathways for Detroit‘s ~53,000 public school students
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In memoriam: Chris Waymaster, whose legacy continues to guide Team Waymaster‘s work.
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May Community Celebration: Fueling the Future!
We have some incredible news to share! Thanks to the overwhelming heart and solidarity of our Detroit community, we fueled 9 students on their journey to professional licensure this spring.
Founding President Ashley Ramirez personally kicked off the campaign with a $200 donation to spark it, the Greer family — owners of our partner Citgo at Van Dyke & Neff in Detroit — matched it dollar-for-dollar with another $200, and a massive and heartfelt THANK YOU to Mrs. Dell Stubblefield, whose generous gift closed out the campaign. Because of this community effort, nine future barbers and cosmetologists no longer have to worry about the cost of gas getting between them and their dreams.
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- $450 total raised for gas vouchers — a $200 Spark from our Founding President, a $200 match from Citgo‘s owners, and a closing gift from Mrs. Dell Stubblefield
- 9 students supported — 5 at Metro Detroit Barber College, 4 at Dymond Designs Beauty School
This is what happens when we come together — building wealth, removing barriers, and fueling the Detroit workforce, one student at a time. Every dollar stayed right here in Detroit, supporting a locally owned business and empowering the next generation of Detroit entrepreneurs.
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An Honest Look at Our Finances
We believe you deserve the real numbers, not just the highlight reel. Here‘s what our operating account actually looked like from January through June 2026:
| Month | Revenue | Expenses | Balance |
| January | $9.70 | $8.00 | $143.73 |
| February | $29.40 | $8.00 | $165.13 |
| March | $38.80 | $8.00 | $195.93 |
| April | $49.10 | $8.00 | $237.03 |
| May | $59.70 | $58.00 | $238.73 |
| June | $9.70 | $8.00 | $240.43 |
Our core programming — including last year‘s Team Waymaster activation — has been delivered almost entirely through in-kind volunteer labor from licensed barbers: 9 barbers donated over $2,000 in services to deliver 200+ free haircuts at Ford Field in 2025, with zero cash outlay.
That event was part of the broader 2025 Michigan Men‘s Health Event, which drew 1,750 registered participants — the largest turnout in the event‘s 15-year history — and led to 3 men being sent directly to the hospital for life-saving intervention as a result of the screenings provided.
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A Team Waymaster volunteer connects with a veteran attendee at the 2025 Men‘s Health Event.
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Our Panera Bread Dine-to-Donate Day
On July 10th, we partnered with the Royal Oak Panera Bread (30955 Woodward Ave) for a dine-to-donate fundraiser, with 30% of net sales from participating orders going directly toward free community haircuts — including our September Men‘s Health Event — and barber/cosmetology apprenticeships.
In the spirit of the same transparency we‘re committed to above: turnout was lighter than we‘d hoped, and we likely didn‘t net significant funds from this particular event. Final numbers are still pending from Panera, and we‘ll share them once confirmed. We‘re grateful to everyone who did participate, and we‘re taking the lesson forward as we plan future community fundraisers.
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What‘s Coming: Q3–Q4 2026
The back half of the year is where our momentum turns into action:
- Two Michigan Men‘s Health Events — Detroit (Sept. 26, Wayne State Fieldhouse) and, for the first time, Grand Rapids (Nov. 21, DeVos Place) — expanding Team Waymaster into West Michigan
- A growing grants pipeline — including proposals submitted to the Skillman Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and 18 Walmart Spark Good Local Grant applications across West Michigan and Metro Detroit, plus an active application with the Consumers Energy Foundation
- Our stackable microcredential pathway for returning Team Waymaster volunteers, tied to our USDOL Registered Apprenticeship Program (No. 2025-MI-132865)
- Growth of our Community Care Partners program, where partner barbershops commit to providing free community haircuts beyond event day
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Team Waymaster barbers with a community member and local media at Ford Field.
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Team Waymaster barbers serving multiple community members at once.
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How You Can Help Us Prepare
As you can see from the numbers above, Barcos runs lean — and that‘s exactly why every gift matters so much right now. With two Men‘s Health Events ahead of us this fall, we‘re seeking support to recognize and sustain the licensed barbers who make this work possible: event supplies, materials, and transportation support for our Team Waymaster volunteers.
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We also want to take a moment to thank our recurring donors — supporters like the Blooms — who ensure that Barcos is backed not just for a single day, but all year round. That steady, ongoing support is what lets us plan ahead with confidence instead of scrambling event to event.
Thank you for asking us to be accountable to you. It‘s what allows us to keep building — one chair, one credential, one community at a time.
Warmest regards,
Ashley Ramirez
Founding President, Barcos Foundation
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Barcos Foundation · 2785 E Grand Blvd, Suite 494, Detroit, MI 48211
barcosfoundation.org · @barcosfoundation
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