The NCA CARES FUND is an umbrella fundraising effort to benefit three important salon community outreach programs supported by the National Cosmetology Association membership. As a part of their commitment to community service, NCA members have given literally hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours - and even more in dollars - to help those in need.

The proceeds from the 2008 International Legends Ball Commemorative Journal will provide needed funds to assist the following 501(c)3 charitable programs:

CUT IT OUT/Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund trains salon professionals to recognize the signs of domestic abuse and safely respond  and refer clients and peers in need to local resources. In partnership with NCA and Southern Living at HOME, CUT IT OUT has provided training to over 20,000 salon professionals. In addition, over 40 state Attorney Generals have adopted CUT IT OUT as a community outreach program and helped to distribute over 200,000 CUT IT OUT posters and client safety cards to salons and cosmetology schools. Visit cutitout.org for additional information.

Look Good…Feel Better has, over the course of its 18 year history, provided salon professionals with volunteer opportunities to help cancer patients deal with the appearances related side effects of cancer treatment regimens. NCA, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation (CTFA) have worked together to provide Look Good... Fee Better salon pro volunteers the opportunity to provide hospital based setting training sessions to over 550,000 cancer patients to date. For more information, visit www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

The NCA Disaster Relief Fund was established in 1955 to provide emergency financial assistance to salons rebuilding following the devastation of a natural disaster. Over the course of five decades, the fund has been there for professionals in times of dire need. Most recently, the entire industry came together to help NCA's Disaster Relief Fund raise and distribute over $1 million in aid to directly assist salon professionals rebuild their careers and lives following Hurricane Katrina. For more information, click here.