Monday, March 22, 2004
BY KATHLEEN DOUGHERTY
For The Patriot-News
The
hair dryers at Kenneth and Co. Beauty Clinic in Camp Hill are
usually silent on Sundays, but this week the sound of the electric
fans filled the salon as clients came to aid a worthy cause.
From 9
a.m. to noon, stylists volunteered to cut hair and give manicures,
donating the proceeds to a memorial scholarship fund in the name
of Megan Bolton, who worked as an assistant at the clinic in the
summer of 2001.
After a car accident killed 17-year-old Megan last July, her
friends and family started the scholarship fund for area students.
Recipients of the first two scholarships will be selected in
April. Scholarship applicants must submit an essay on the meaning
of friendship.
"If
you have children, you feel like you have to be a part of it,"
said Kenneth Dum, CEO of Kenneth and Co. Beauty Clinic.
"She
had a very positive outlook on life, very motivated," said Kathie
Dum of the clinic. "It's an opportunity to help the youth of Camp
Hill, and being a parent I can definitely understand the loss of a
child."
In the
back of the clinic, Charlie Ryerson, a Kenneth and Co. stylist,
painted the nails of Megan's 6-year-old sister, Madeleine, whose
blond hair was newly cut and styled in bouncy Shirley Temple
curls. With her tongue sticking out, she admired her sparkly red
nails.
"You
wanted extra sparkles, right?" Ryerson asked Madeleine. "The more
sparkles the better, right?"
"She
was always smiling," Ryerson recalled of Megan. "She always seemed
to be happy, always did a good job."
Ryerson and Janice Bolton, Megan's stepmother, came up with the
idea of setting up a fund-raiser to benefit the scholarship fund.
"I
thought it would be nice to be able to do something for somebody
that worked here," Ryerson said. "We do so many fund-raisers for
people that we don't really know on a personal basis."
"It
was Charlie's idea and it was a great idea," Bolton said.
"Everybody signed on board, which was really fabulous. It's really
unique getting a service rather than asking someone if they can
please write a check. If she knew what was going on, she would be
so thrilled."
Yesterday's work raised $1,500 to add to the $10,000 already
raised.
Some
of Megan's closest friends attended yesterday, showing their
support. Kristen Moody, 18, of Camp Hill, received a manicure,
painting her nails pink -- Megan's favorite color.
"We
used to do our hair and makeovers together," Kristen recalled.
"She definitely loved it. She was excited and wanted to be in the
salon. As soon as she got home and told me she had the job, she
mentioned how she would get discounts on hair cuts and nails."
"She
liked to make people laugh," said Tessa Miller, 18, of Enola.
"That was her favorite thing to do."
"She
was very lively and entertaining, always really funny and kind to
everyone, Kristen said. "She had so many different friends,
because she just loved everyone."
At the
sink, stylists in their red "No Regrets" shirts were busy
shampooing. The talk was of weddings, spring and Megan. "She was
so sweet," one stylist said to her client. Said
Tessa, "She would have appreciated everyone that came."