High School Student May Shave Head at Event to Support Angola

Austin Eaton’s “Save It or Shave It” campaign to raise money to rebuild the medical clinic in Bom Jesus, Angola sounds like a light-hearted fun effort. And, it is. But for event creator Austin Eaton the goal goes far beyond having a good time. When the 15-year-old Aptos resident and York School student was asked by his church missions team to head the fundraising effort toBuild A Bridge of Love to Angola, he saw an opportunity to make a difference by going beyond asking his congregation to donate money. Moved by the plight of the Angolan people, Eaton chose to create two events with the goal of including his church, friends, fellow students and the community. He will make a presentation on the effort in Angola during the Sunday service of the Aptos United Methodist Church on June 16 followed by a luncheon. Then on Friday evening, June 21 he will present a picnic and concert to complete the campaign. Eaton can be recognized from afar by his head of curly hair and he’s willing to put it on the line for the cause. Contributors are asked to vote with their donations on whether Eaton will or won’t shave his locks when the results are revealed at the concert and picnic. 

Eaton has done his research on the plight of the Angolan people. He says, “I have been moved by several different aspects of life in Angola or simply Africa. My main inspiration is the tragic state of Angola; it is a country torn by two wars leaving widespread poverty and deprivation. To add to this struggle, like all Sub-Saharan Africa, Malaria is a constant threat to survival.” In fact, every 60 seconds a child dies of Malaria in Africa. The Bom Jesus Medical Clinic located on the campus of the local Methodist church serves a rural community of 10,000 people and plays a key role in supporting the Angolan people to eliminate Malaria in their country.

“Few people know what life is like in Angola,” Eaton explains, “and while improving the situation is more important than simply knowing of it, awareness can compel people to want to make a difference.”

The presentation on Angola will be during the Sunday service of the Aptos United Methodist Church at 10:30am on Sunday, June 16. The African and Portuguese inspired luncheon is at noon, tickets are $12 and must be purchased by Wednesday, June 12. They are available at the church office or may be reserved by calling 688-2210. The menu includes Portuguese Stone Soup with Linguica, Tomato and Watermelon Salad, and Kari’s Chocolate and Vanilla Malva Pudding donated by the Mansfeld family of Aptos.

The “Save It or Shave It” Concert and Picnic on Friday, June 21 from 6 until 8pm is free. It will feature live rock and reggae by two teenage bands; Almost Chaos, voted a top teen band by “School Jam USA” in 2010 and 2012; and Whiplash, a teen band that has been performing throughout Santa Cruz County for two years. The Palm Deli will be selling picnic dinners in advance and donating 10% of the proceeds. Picnics must be preordered and will be delivered to the event. To order call (831)688-DELI (3354). To see a complete menu go to www.ThePalmDeli.com. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnics. Stylist Julie Rasmussen of Seaweed Hair Design will be on standby, razor in hand, ready to relieve Eaton of his curls if that’s the way the voting goes.

All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of the proceeds benefit Building a Bridge of Love to Angola, the offering of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Donations may be brought to either event or mailed to the United Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos, CA 95003. Checks should be payable to ACUMC with the words “Save It-Angola” or “Shave It-Angola” written on the memo line.

Both events are on the campus of the Aptos United Methodist Church at 221 Thunderbird Drive. From Highway One take the Larkin Valley Road/San Andreas Road exit, turn right (west) on San Andreas Rd., turn right on Seascape Blvd., right on Dolphin, right on Pinehurst, and right on Thunderbird. For more information call 688-2210 or find the concert and picnic on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/523337211063090/