The Hair Cuttery made the following announcement:

The Hair Cuttery in Watertown will provide free haircuts to children in need so they can be ready for the start of the new school year.

Hair Cuttery will launch its 12th Annual “Share a Haircut” program to provide children in need with a fresh haircut to start the new school year. The program is a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

“The first day of school is a big day for kids and we want to help them look their best,” said Dennis Ratner, Founder and CEO of Hair Cuttery.  “We believe every child deserves a new haircut for the start of the school year and we are eager to help provide them for children in need.”

From Aug. 1through Aug. 15, every time a child (age 18 or younger) receives a haircut at any of the nearly 800 Hair Cuttery salons, including the Watertown location at 137 Mount Auburn St., a free haircut will be provided to a disadvantaged child in each community.  Through partnerships with over one hundred local social service agencies and non-profit organizations, Hair Cuttery has donated more than 560,000 haircuts since the program’s inception in 1999.

“We are extremely proud of the Share a Haircut program. For the past 12 years, this company initiative has helped students in our salon communities feel more confident going back to school,” Ratner said. “It creates the opportunity for children to help other children in the community, and teaches them that a simple deed can make a big difference to someone less fortunate.”

Hair Cuttery has an established legacy of charitable giving. The company supports a number of national and local causes, including: Dress for Success, American Cancer Society, Special Olympics, Buzzing 4 Change, National Kidney Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Locks of Love.