ORLANDO, FL – November 4, 2021 – In true Ripley’s fashion, Jim Pattison Jr., President of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for IAAPA (the global association for the attractions industry), is shaving his beard at the IAAPA Expo and adding it to Hoss — the Guinness World Records™ contender for Largest Ball of Human Hair!
Launching November 15, 2021, Ripley’s Shave the Beard and Make it Weird! campaign was concocted to support Give Kids The World Village, an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost.
IAAPA Expo attendees are encouraged to participate by contributing their own hair to Hoss the Hairball at the Give Kids The World Village booth (#4233) on the tradeshow floor and donating to Give Kids The World Village. Attendees do not have to contribute hair to make a charitable donation. In fact, for every donation made, Ripley's will match it, up to $10,000 total.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Pattison told his team he wouldn’t shave until all Ripley’s Attractions were reopened worldwide. With over 100 attractions in 10 countries, this was no small feat. Today, Ripley’s is proud to have successfully and safely reopened attractions in all but two countries. The IAAPA Expo, taking place in-person for the first time since 2019, offered the perfect platform to finally shave his COVID beard and launch this fundraising initiative.
“With a shared goal of inspiring, supporting, and spreading joy to families, Ripley’s has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Give Kids The World Village,” said the nonprofit’s President and CEO, Pamela Landwirth. “Ripley’s continues its support by matching the donations raised by the Hoss Hairball up to $10,000, with all proceeds donated to make dreams come true for families facing unimaginable challenges.”
According to Guinness World Records™, the Largest Ball of Human Hair ever created weighed 167 pounds. Hoss is well on his way to surpassing that weight!
“Initially created by stylist Steve Warden, Hoss eclipsed 100 pounds in 2019. Since then, over 1,000 Ripley’s fans have personally contributed to the hairball’s weight,” explained Jim Pattison Jr. “With over 20,000 attendees expected to take part in the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, we are hopeful we will surpass the World Record — all in the name of a good cause!”
To learn more about Ripley’s Shave the Beard and Make it Weird! Or to donate to Give Kids The World, visit www.Ripleys.com/GKTW. For downloadable assets, visit www.Ripleys.com/GKTWpress.
Coverage Note: Media are invited to see Pattison’s beard get shaved and added to Hoss the Hairball from the IAAPA Expo trade show floor on Friday, November 19, at the Orange Country Convention Center at 11 a.m. in the North-South Building. To learn more and register, email [email protected]. All attending media will require a registration badge, to be picked up from the IAAPA Expo Press Office, located in room S230A. The Press Office opens at 9 a.m.
Susan Storey Sabrina Sieck
IAAPA Media Contact Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Creative Content Manager
[email protected] [email protected]
(608) 432 – 8197 (407) 450 – 1516
About Ripley Entertainment
Built on the foundation of a daily newspaper cartoon in 1918—still in print today—Ripley Entertainment has grown to be a world leader in family entertainment, expanding to include more than 100 attractions in 10 countries around the world. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, Guinness World Records Attractions, Aquariums, WaxWorks, Traveling Shows, and miniature golf, the world of Ripley’s continues to grow through exciting new experiences, content, and books for all ages. Learn more about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! by visiting Ripleys.com and following on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
About Give Kids The World
Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is an 89-acre, whimsical non-profit in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost. Every child and his/her family is treated to accommodations, transportation, donated theme park tickets, all meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, daily gifts and more. Since 1986, GKTW has welcomed nearly 177,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries to laugh together, play together, and create priceless memories away from hospital stays and medical treatments. GKTW relies on the generosity of caring individuals and corporate partners to make these life-changing experiences possible. For more information, visit www.gktw.org.
About IAAPA
IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.
