Wig Grants for Kids

Burn victims, cancer patients and people with alopecia areata all experience a condition known as medical hair loss, which is especially difficult for young children and their families. While medical hair loss can be physically and emotionally troubling for children, the cost of a hairpiece is often just one of many expenses that families face when dealing with these conditions. Grants and donated wigs make it easier for parents to restore their children's hair.

Locks of Love

• Locks of Love serves children under 21 years of age in the United States and Canada who have experienced long-term hair loss for any medical reason, including alopecia areata or cancer treatment. Locks of Love uses donated human hair to create hair prosthetics. The prosthetics created by locks of love are donated to eligible children or provided at a low cost, depending on the family's level financial need. Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that relies on donor support to create wigs for children; most of the hairpieces Locks of Love creates would retail for several thousand dollars. The wigs Locks of Love provides have a vacuum seal to keep them secure on the head. They can be worn while swimming and washed in the shower.

  Locks of Love
  234 Southern Blvd.
  West Palm Beach, FL 33405
  561-833-7332
  locksoflove.org

Wigs for Kids

• Wigs for Kids is a nonprofit organization that provides wigs for children under the age of 18 who have medical hair loss for any reason, such as burns, cancer treatment or alopecia areata, and cannot afford the cost of a hairpiece. Wigs for Kids accepts donations of hair or financial assistance, and publishes instructions online for how to cut a ponytail for donation. Hair salons can become active with Wigs for Kids by joining the network of participating salons and displaying a sticker in their window. Salons can also become affiliates and receive special training for styling wigs for children.

  Wigs for Kids
  24231 Center Ridge Rd.
  Westlake, OH 44145
  440-333-4433
  wigsforkids.org

National Children's Cancer Society

• The National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS) provides financial assistance to low-income families with children who have been diagnosed with cancer. NCCS grants are direct financial awards that can be used for health insurance, transportation to treatment centers, meals and lodging during treatment. NCCS awards also cover any medical expenses not paid by insurance, including wigs or hairpieces. NCCS is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing financial assistance for treating children's cancer.

  National Children's Cancer Society
  Patient and Family Services
  1 S. Memorial Dr., Suite 800
  Saint Louis, MO 63102
  800-532-6459
  children-cancer.org

Children's Body-Image Foundation

• The Children's Body-Image Foundation is a nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers and devoted to increasing children's access to allied health services. The Children's Body-Image Foundation provides limited financial assistance for children who require allied health services like wigs and other prosthetics, counseling or rehabilitation. To be eligible, families must indicate financial need as a result of parental unemployment, lack of medical insurance or have income that's below 250 percent of the poverty level published by Health and Human Service Poverty Guidelines. Awards are limited to $500 per child per financial aid request.

  Children's Body-Image Foundation
  5195 Hampstead Village Center Way, Suite 106
  New Albany, OH 43054
  Childrensbodyimagefoundation.org