Friends and family,

I'm hoping that you can help me support some really deserving kids.

Over the next four weeks, I'll be growing a really questionable mustache to help raise attention and funding for two really great causes:

The Shih Yu Lang YMCA: Located in San Francisco's poor Tenderloin neighborhood, this little Y branch is a home-away-from-home for dozens of at-risk youth. I volunteer on the Board here, work with their youth programs, and can attest to how special this place is. This Y has experienced brutal funding cuts and is on a shoestring budget. I'm raising funds that will go directly to their food program, which buys food that youth learn to cook (and eat) for dinner each night. To contribute, please visit the YMCA giving site and select "Shih Yu Lang" branch.

Think College Now: This is an amazing oasis of educational hope and change in Oakland's Fruitvale District. It's an educational success story: a poor school (95% of kids there on free and reduced lunch) that has completely turned around test scores and parent involvement. They work really hard to raise funds for books and other materials in face of three straight years of funding cuts. You can choose a specific classroom project to contribute to on my Mustaches for Kids Giving Page.

Thank you so much for taking time to contribute to one of these worthy causes. In a time of year marked by generosity, family and good will, your contribution will make a real difference in kids' lives.