Beauty Bus Foundation Honors Volunteers

Left to right are makeup artist Jen Zide, Michael Bassett, Beverly Kessler, Hairroin Salon owner and stylist Janine Jarmon, and ROB/B Salon owner Robbie Schaeffer.

The Beauty Bus Foundation recently celebrated industry volunteers who bring beauty into the lives of homebound and terminally or chronically ill individuals and their primary caregivers free of charge. The foundation honored their 75 volunteers with a Mexican-themed cocktail and appetizer award reception. Calling attention to the tremendous support by beauty professionals and individual volunteers who help drive the bus, the Beauty Bus Foundation recognized four exceptional individuals and a salon of the year for making the mission of Beauty Bus possible.

Salon of the Year: ROB|B Salon. Salon owner and Beauty Bus board member Robbie Schaeffer did the very first Beauty Bus visit, and ROB|B Salon, the first OPI Concept Salon, has never stopped. Every nail technician at ROB|B Salon has volunteered and the ROB/B Salon team goes on client visits weekly, provides bags of beauty on visits, and participates in numerous events.

Bus Driver of the Year: Michael Bassett. Given to the office, event, or fundraising volunteer who has gone above and beyond to keep the “engine” of the Beauty Bus running. Bassett is a professional graphic designer who has spent countless hours designing the Beauty Bus logos and all print materials.

Beauty Buddy of the Year: Beverly Kessler. This award is given to the non-beauty professional who not only attends home visits and events, but does so with passion and compassion for the clients and their caregivers.

Beauty Professional of the Year: Janine Jarman. Jarman, the owner of Hairroin Salon in Hollywood, Calif., was the first hairdresser to go on a Beauty Bus visit and has been on more visits than any other beauty professional volunteer. She brings her Hollywood glamour and expert hairstyling to the homes of our isolated clients, reminding them they are beautiful.

The Melissa Award: Jennifer Zide. Given to the volunteer who most embodies the spirit of the Beauty Bus Foundation, this award was founded in memory of Melissa Marantz Nealy. Zide is a professional makeup artist who has worked on countless movie and television sets.

“We could not bring treatments and the level of service to our clients without the countless volunteers who support us,” note Alicia Liotta and Wendy Levine, founders of the Beauty Bus Foundation. From the beauty professionals who bring beauty home to our clients to the Beauty Buddies who come on the visit for companionship and to those in the office working daily, we are so grateful for each moment our volunteers lend.”

The Beauty Bus Foundation hopes to double the number of clients it can serve in 2011 but need the professional beauty industry’s help. “We have big dreams and need more volunteers to reach them. If you, or someone you know, wants to learn more, please contact us. There is always room for more volunteers on our bus,” says Liotta.

For more information please visit www.beautybus.org or call (310) 287-1272.

— Judy