Kentucky Fried Stache

Say "Kentucky" and I think of Bluegrass music, southern twangs ... and chicken. Having never visited the state, I thought this was accurate; at least until Greg Virgin of Louisville, Kentucky introduced himself to me. Now I think Bluegrass, twang, chicken and Stache. It's a nice addition.

After throwing a successful mustache party--as if there is any other kind of worthy party--Greg and three friends discovered the attention-holding phenomenon of the Stache and realized the potential of using their hair-growing faces to raise awareness and money for a good cause. They dubbed it "Mustache Momentum" and Bam! they became philstacheropists and founded Mustaches Against Malignancies (M.A.M.), an organization in Louisville that benefits local charities. Their first event (this Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009) is called M.A.M.!Fest. The organization is taking over O'Shea's Irish Pub where 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Gilda's Club Louisville cancer resource center with the goal of raising over $10,000.

Hmm, M.A.M!Fest: Support the Stache, drink and save some lives. If you're in Kentucky, why wouldn't you go? If it's not for the obvious, then go for Greg. He's only 25, claims he sometimes gets confused for Tom Selleck (or daydreams about this happening), nicknamed the Stache a "flavor saving instrument of juice" and defied Kentuckian stereotypes when he helped create the genius M.A.M. idea.

AND if that's still not reason enough, do it for Kentucky. Colonel Sanders--the one brought you the original recipe and who sported the snowy Stache and funny "bow" tie long before the founders of M.A.M. were even a thought--deserves it. Honey, do you think KFC's still open?