TSPA Maplewood Honored with the Marilyn Fulkerson Community Service Award

The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood is incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Marilyn Fulkerson Community Service Award — a recognition that means more to us than words can fully express.

Marilyn Fulkerson held such a special place in our hearts. She was someone who always encouraged us to do things the right way, lead with purpose, and operate with both integrity and heart. She believed deeply in education, service, and building a culture that truly impacts people’s lives.

Receiving an award in her name makes this recognition even more meaningful.

At TSPA Maplewood, community service is not something we do for attention or awards. It is simply part of who we are. It is woven into our culture, our classrooms, our team, and the way we teach future professionals to use their talents to make a difference.

Throughout 2025, our students and staff participated in projects that supported both local and global communities.

We began the year by supporting the Global Stylist Scholarship, collecting and donating five suitcases full of tools, supplies, and kit items for future stylists in Guatemala. Guests and team members purchased hearts to support the mission, and myself (Julie) and Cortney traveled there to teach and serve. It was an experience that deeply impacted everyone involved and reminded us how powerful this industry can be across the world.

Locally, our academy stayed committed to serving our communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin through monthly outreach initiatives, including:

• Donating gift cards to Post Prom
• Supporting the local Humane Society
• Hosting a Personal Hygiene Drive benefiting the Salvation Army and Washington County Homeless Services
• Offering free haircuts and express facials during our Cancer Survivor Beauty & Support Day
• Raising awareness for Anti-Bullying Month
• Collecting and donating over 55 backpacks and school supplies during our Back-to-School Drive
• Supporting Suicide Prevention Month with donations to Wigs for Kids and free haircut events
• Raising funds for Hope Chest through our Breast Cancer Awareness shirt sales
• Donating nearly 500 pounds of food to the Salvation Army during the holiday season

Beyond organized drives and events, our students and team continuously gave back through free veteran haircuts, senior discounts, volunteer “Fair Hair” events supporting veterans and first responders, high school outreach programs, local benefit donations, and partnerships throughout the community.

But one moment from this past year touched our hearts in a way we will never forget.

There is someone very special on our team who works quietly behind the scenes from across the world in the Philippines. In December, she sent a message that brought us to tears. Because of the opportunities she has through our salon and academy companies, she and her husband were able to provide Christmas meals for families in their community with limited resources.

They prepared bags filled with spaghetti, fruit salad, and essential items so families could enjoy a holiday meal together.

Seeing the photos of those meals being prepared and distributed was an emotional reminder that kindness can ripple much farther than we realize. The work we do inside our salon and academy reaches beyond Minnesota and Wisconsin, spreading all the way to communities across the globe.

Her message read:

“I just wanted to share something special and extend my heartfelt thanks. Because of your generosity and support, we were able to help families with limited resources enjoy spaghetti and fruit salad this Christmas. Thank you for being part of this meaningful mission and for helping bring joy to their holiday season.”

Moments like this remind us what community service is truly about.

It is about people.
It is about compassion.
It is about using our gifts to serve others.

This award reflects the heart of our students, educators, and team members who continue to show up with generosity, kindness, and purpose every single day.

We are incredibly proud, deeply grateful, and truly honored to receive the Marilyn Fulkerson Community Service Award.

And most importantly, we are proud to be a school where service is not just an event — it is a calling. 🤍