Ripley’s attempts Guinness World Records Title in support of Give Kids The World Village
Jim Pattison Jr., President of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and vice chair of the Board of Directors for IAAPA, is shaving his beard at the IAAPA Expo and adding it to Hoss — the Guinness World Records™ contender for Largest Ball of Human Hair!
Launching November 15, 2021, Ripley’s Shave the Beard and Make it Weird! campaign was concocted to support Give Kids The World Village, an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost.
IAAPA Expo attendees are encouraged to participate by contributing their own hair to Hoss the Hairball at the Give Kids The World Village booth (#4233) on the tradeshow floor and donating to Give Kids The World Village. Attendees do not have to contribute hair to make a charitable donation. In fact, for every donation made, Ripley’s will match it, up to $10,000 total.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Pattison told his team he wouldn’t shave until all Ripley’s Attractions were reopened worldwide. With over 100 attractions in 10 countries, this was no small feat. Today, Ripley’s is proud to have successfully and safely reopened attractions in all but two countries. The IAAPA Expo, taking place in-person for the first time since 2019, offered the perfect platform to finally shave his COVID beard and launch this fundraising initiative.
“With a shared goal of inspiring, supporting, and spreading joy to families, Ripley’s has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Give Kids The World Village,” said the nonprofit’s President and CEO, Pamela Landwirth. “Ripley’s continues its support by matching the donations raised by the Hoss Hairball up to $10,000, with all proceeds donated to make dreams come true for families facing unimaginable challenges.”
According to Guinness World Records™, the Largest Ball of Human Hair ever created weighed 167 pounds. Hoss is well on his way to surpassing that weight!
“Initially created by stylist Steve Warden, Hoss eclipsed 100 pounds in 2019. Since then, over 1,000 Ripley’s fans have personally contributed to the hairball’s weight,” explained Jim Pattison Jr. “With over 20,000 attendees expected to take part in the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, we are hopeful we will surpass the World Record — all in the name of a good cause!”
To learn more about Ripley’s Shave the Beard and Make it Weird! Or to donate to Give Kids The World, visit www.Ripleys.com/GKTW. .
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