Pittsburgh barber cutting into profit to help raise money for Lemieux Foundation
When Dave Peters was 10 years old, his father, William Peters died of a heart attack at the age of 50.
The youngster found comfort at the Highmark Caring Place, a Pittsburgh center for grieving children, adolescents and their families. Pittsburgh’s most welcoming neighbor, Fred Rogers, was honorary chairman.
“That is where my love for charities began,” said Peters.
Peters is known as “Pittsburgh Dave,” a professional barber who works at The House of Kutz hair studio in Dormont.
“If it wasn’t for that place, I don’t know where I would be today,” he said. “I take mental health serious. My grandparents instilled in me that it is OK to talk about how you feel. It’s OK to show emotion and empathy.”
That challenging time in his life — and his experience as a parent with a 4-year-old daughter, Ainsley — inspired him to help children.
Peters plans to donate $3 from every haircut he gives until Oct. 5, 2021, to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. The date is Lemieux’s birthday, as well as that of Peters’ late father.
Peters hopes to raise $7,000. The foundation works to find a cure for childhood cancer.
This is AWESOME. Go visit @pittsburghdave_ and get your hair cut and $3 will donated to the MLF now through 10/5/21. https://t.co/GhfdmXc86p
— Mario Lemieux (@MarioLemieuxFdn) October 13, 2020
He and his dad attended Lemieux’s return to the Penguins on Dec. 27, 2000, after cancer treatments and back pain kept the star off the ice.
That game was the father and son’s last sporting event together. William Peters died on Jan. 20, 2001.
Peters, 29, who learned to cut hair at the Barber School of Pittsburgh, heard about the foundation from his fiancée, Amber Stark. Lemieux is Peters’ favorite player.
“I have seen what the foundation does and I want to do my part to help,” said Peters, who grew up in Swissvale and lives in Monroeville. “I have a daughter, and kids come first. It was tough to lose my dad at that age.”
He said his mom, Cathy Peters, was excited when he told her about wanting to donate. She knows how big of a fan her son is of Lemieux.
His clientele includes Teddy Blueger of the Penguins, Zach Trotman of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, former Pittsburgh Steeler Daniel McCullers and country music artist Spencer Crandall.
Peters’ social media presence has helped him attract more customers. He said he owes part of his success to The House of Kutz owner Antonio Che, and Talia Scarpato and Marlon Sousis, two barbers he connected with via social media. Barbers need to be continually learning, Peters said.
Alongside haircuts, beard trims and clean shaves, Peters treats clients to hot towel facial cleansers, black charcoal face masks, beard washing and scalp treatments. A haircut is $20 to $30.
Book an appointment here.
Josh Retos of Monessen comes in every other week for a haircut. He has work in the area as a safety industrial supplies salesman.
“You can’t walk into a place and sell items to people if your hair is a mess,” Retos said. “And you should be clean-shaven, too.”
Retos said it’s admirable what Peters is doing.
“We need more people in the world like Pittsburgh Dave,” Retos said. ‘The world would be a better place. When you put things out, you often get good things back. And I hope this comes back to him in payment of many more clients.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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