Hero Story

Maggie Varney is a licensed cosmetologist with over 40 years experience in the beauty industry. In 2003, she founded Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan – a local, grassroots 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides wigs & support services to children ages 3 to 18 at no charge throughout the state of Michigan. Over the last 18 years under Maggie's guidance, the charity has transformed the lives of over 5,000 Michigan children in need.

Maggie has the heart of a servant and is humbled to be a voice for the children of Michigan. Over the last 7 years, she has worked alongside state legislators to introduce "wig bills" – in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation would ensure that insurance companies cover the costs of children's wigs like any other prosthetics. They are currently pending at the insurance policy committee and have garnered much support through a campaign called "Kids Should Be Covered."

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and lives were put on hold, cancer didn't stop. Children still lost their hair due to this disease and other medical disorders. Maggie was in the middle of a capital campaign toward a permanent brick-and-mortar Wellness Center at the time and when it was safe to resume construction on the building after the lockdown, she kept the organization on target to finish the job. The new Wellness Center opened in 2020 and Maggie continued to work tirelessly to ensure that every child in need of a wig received one. As we all got used to the "new normal," she pivoted the organization to incorporate virtual technology like Zoom to reach the children right in their hospital beds. With the help of child life specialists & nurse navigators who Maggie taught to measure the children's head sizes, the organization was able to order their wigs while keeping everyone safe.

Zoom was also incorporated into the program's support service counseling to help kids who were in quarantine or unable to travel due to their health challenge or distance. Classes & social activities that once took place in large groups onsite at the nonprofit's Wellness Center were also held virtually through Zoom so the children would still be able to meet new friends, build camaraderie, and benefit from art & music therapy, meditative yoga, and skin care & make-up classes.

Every business; especially nonprofits have been hit hard by the pandemic. In order to continue the mission, Maggie chose not to cancel the signature event of the year and brought that to a virtual platform too. The organization was still able to celebrate it's wig recipients, recognize donors and leverage funds to sustain the important work of Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan.

As a forward-thinking entrepreneur, Maggie has also embraced the shift in the beauty industry toward going green. In 2010, she established Go Green Salon inside of Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan – it is one of the very first eco-friendly salons on the east side of Michigan. She wanted to create an environment that was healthier for the guests, team and Earth by utilizing all natural products while maintaining quality in the goods & services provided. Under Maggie's leadership, Go Green Salon was honored with the 101 Best & Brightest Sustainable Companies Awards by the Michigan Business & Professional Association for its commitment to being green.

Through her Go Green Salon, Maggie also works with adult cancer patients. She developed a program called Creating a Total Image that helps patients address the appearance-related side effects of treatment on hair, skin & nails through education and resources. This comprehensive workshop is taught monthly by Maggie and sponsored by Ascension St. John Health System. She is truly a hero!

Maggie is truly a hero to the people of Michigan –