Joe Doti, director of admissions at the Salon Professional Academy in Shorewood, believes that looking good and feeling good should be synonymous.

To that end, the beauty school partnered with Feed My Starving Children to hold its second annual cut-a-thon event – a fundraising effort benefiting the Aurora-based charity.

“Every single [Salon Professional Academy] location got on board with all of this,” Doti said, explaining that individual franchises select a local charity to work with. “We can donate to any charity that we want, and our charity is Feed My Starving Children.”

Last year’s event raised about $70,000, according to Doti. In doing so, the salon helped feed more than 200,000 families.

Sarai Guerrero, of Joliet, frequents the Shorewood salon regularly, and said she liked how it was getting the community involved and helping make a difference.

“I [actually] am getting a haircut today, so that’s part of it,” Guerrero said.

Jenna Lubash, a student hairstylist, said customers seem receptive to the cut-a-thon event. Lubash has been working at the salon for more than a year and said it’s nice seeing everyone in the salon working with one goal in mind – fighting world hunger.

Joselyn Cruz has also worked at the salon as a student hairstylist for more than a year.

She said she loves the community support shown during the fundraiser.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Cut-a-thon fundraisers were held at all Salon Professional Academy locations across the country. The Salon Professional Academy is a nationwide beauty school franchise.

Doti noted that the Shorewood salon gets a lot of walk-ins, which are perfect for the student stylists.

“It’s just come at your leisure and everyone gets a haircut,” he said of the fundraiser.

Doti said holding the event was a win-win for everyone.

“It’s a minimum $10 donation, so you’re looking at a $30 haircut for $10,” he said.