CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As the Charlottesville region deals with an uptick in child abuse cases, Mustaches 4 Kids is returning for another campaign in 2026, with the goal of raising funds for two vital area non-profits.
Former lawyer Kate Duvall, President & CEO of Piedmont CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), and Sherri McKinney, President & CEO of Foothills Child Advocacy Center, started the Charlottesville-Albemarle iteration of Mustaches 4 Kids in 2023.
The fundraiser will have participants grow out the best mustache they can over the course of the month, with “growers” soliciting donations from friends, family and others along the way.
During its first year, the fundraising goal of $25,000 was surpassed comfortably, making $40,000 to benefit the two organizations Last year, the campaign raised $85,000 dollars.
“It is the most fun fundraiser in the history of fundraisers,” McKinney told Cville Right Now. “This a great way to spread the word about the critical work that both organizations (Piedmont CASA and Foothills) do in this community. The money we raise is great and important, but this helps people understand that child abuse happens everywhere, it doesn’t discriminate, and when families don’t have the supports they need, they end up in foster care.”
Foothills serves Charlottesville as well as seven surrounding counties, providing immediate forensic interviews and medical evaluations at their facility, as well as family advocacy for children of abuse.
Duvall, in her service with CASA, follows the example set by Judge Edward Barry, formerly on the bench in the Charlottesville area, and who was instrumental in creating CASA.
Barry referred to CASA as the eyes, ears, and heart of the court, Duvall said.
“That really describes our role,” Duvall said. “It’s what lights my fire when I think about our work, we have these folks who are giving of their time, to get to know the child, to see them for who they are, to hear what they want, what they dream, what they hope, and communicate that information to the court.”
Piedmont CASA fights for and serves children of abuse and their families in and out of the courtroom as advocates for their needs.
“Knowing that children have that voice in what otherwise can be a voiceless process, court can be really hard and impossible for our youngest kids”, Duvall shared “to know we have an adult who’s looking out for them and going to show up when they say, it is a critically important part of our system in the area.”
Ensuring that children have peace, stability, and comfort in being helped through the worst moments of their lives is what motivated Dr. Mark Mendelsohn, following serving as a pediatrician at the University of Virginia, to become the first medical specialist at the Foothills Child Advocacy Center.
Mendelsohn told Cville Right Now that the specialized training both investigators and medical examiners receive at Foothills is crucial to be able to help children facing many different types of challenges, developmental, circumstantial, or otherwise, through the worst moments of their lives.
Ever since encountering an adult whom she had served a social worker when the same adult was twelve years old, McKinney says her work is motivated by one, long-term goal.
“My goal is that every child who comes to Foothills will never bring their child to Foothills,” McKinney said.
Piedmont CASA’s caseload grew by nearly 50% in 2025, and Foothills Child Advocacy Center reporting serving 300 children throughout 2025, and both organizations are on track to surpass those marks in 2026.
As with previous years, those looking to participate in the campaign are encouraged to grow mustaches for the month of November and ask for donations from those in their lives. The campaign will kick off at Högwaller Brewing on Nov. 4, beginning at 6 p.m., and end on Dec. 3 at the “Stache Bash” at Timberwood Tap House, starting at 6 p.m.
Local businesses can learn more about how to help HERE.
