$108,000.  Simply incredible.  The Growers of Mustaches for Kids Omaha raised this amount for Children's Respite Care Center and we celebrated our success at Stache Bash.  Thanks to our celebrity judges Mike McKnight, Jim Flowers, Emily Poeschl, and Cameron Meredith.  We are so proud of our brothers and all of their efforts.  Stache Bash was an unmitigated success - an event I shall think about to distract me from the horrors being carried out on those beautiful milkmops the next day. 

 Sweetest Stache Winner Chuck Whitney

Stache Bash was as great a success as the 2011 Growing Season.  Here is what you may have missed:

Celebrity Judges:

Mike McKnight - WOWT Channel 6 investigative reporter and StacheFriend from day one,

Jim Flowers - Chief Meteorologist, WOWT Channel 6 and owner of Omaha's most recognizable stache,

Emily Poeschl - 2006 Miss Nebraska USA, bombshell, has own wikipedia entry,

Cameron Meredith - Defensive End, University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, pre-season Heisman favorite

Webcast - Thanks to Stache Brother and Stache Team Six member Steve Pflaum for webcasting the whole thing.

StachePageant Winners:

Most Testosterone - Matt Steinbrink

Nastiest Stache - Adam Perez

Best Costume - Jay Slagle

Sweetest Stache - Chuck Whitney

Most Fundraisingest - Mike Lebens

Blake Gibbons Shirt Auction:

You may recall that mustache hero and actor Blake Gibbons did us a solid and sent in a video for our recruiting video.  The shirt he was wearing at the end that said, "Hey, Nice Mustache" was autographed by Blake and sent back to us.  We auctioned it off that night and it went for a whopping $1,000 to benefit CRCC.  In Blake's own words, "My mom wouldn't even pay that much for my autograph."  He is awesome, the shirt is awesome, and the auction was awesome.

The Total is Announced:

The goal was to beat $72,500 and pass San Francisco to become the nation's second highest fundraising chapter.  I cannot describe the reaction when Mustache Kevin turned over the card with the 0 and then pulled the 1 out from behind it.  Pandemonium.  Cheers, tears, hugs, and an ovation that seemed to last 10 minutes.  We are so proud of the guys and the effort they put into raising this staggering amount of cash for CRCC.

CRCC Says Thanks:

After the total was announced Terri Fitzgerald, Executive Director of CRCC, took the stage with all of her staff and CREW Guild members to thank the Growers.  She had to take a moment to compose herself (we should have told her the total ahead of time!) and gave a very heartfelt and genuine thank you to the guys for their efforts. 

After the show we had live music from Minor Detail (who looked rad in their Beastie Boys "Sabotage" costumes).  There may or may not have been a dance contest in which Fancy Sauce narrowly edged The Commodore for the title of Best Dancer Ever.  Jabroney and The Hammer had their own contest and the loser won a cab ride home.  Stuff got broke, women fell in love, and I think we may have elected Pedro Class President so all of our wildest dreams will come true.

All in all a great night.