GEORGETOWN, Texas – Veteran-founded Sport Clips Haircuts is launching its 13th annual campaign for the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program, giving clients nationwide an opportunity to help veterans and service members pursue education and career goals after military service.
The campaign runs Oct. 5 through Nov. 14, 2026, with donations accepted at participating Sport Clips locations. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, participating stores will offer free haircuts to veterans and active-duty service members.
U.S. Army veteran Michael Ventura, a three-time recipient of the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship,” now pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Texas State University.Since the program began, Sport Clips, its clients, franchisees, team members, and product partners have helped raise nearly $17 million, funding more than 3,600 scholarships through the VFW Foundation for veterans and service members pursuing education and training for civilian careers.
“As an Air Force veteran, I understand how important it is for those who have served to have opportunities to build what comes next,” said Gordon Logan, founder and chairman of Sport Clips and a VFW Life member. “Help A Hero is about more than saying 'thank you' on Veterans Day. It is about investing in the lives of veterans and service members as they pursue an education, a career, and a future beyond their military service. Our clients have embraced this mission year after year, and their generosity is what makes these scholarships possible.”
"Every year, I meet veterans who did everything right, they served, they earned their education benefits, left the military and then watched those benefits run out before their degree was finished. That gap shouldn't cost a veteran their future,” said VFW National Commander Cory Geisler. “Sport Clips Haircuts and their clients’ generosity directly closes that gap for our veterans and military families. In today's economy, every dollar matters more than ever, and this support isn’t just funding a scholarship, it’s easing a real financial burden on families who have already given so much."
This year, Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson, a 2026 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Marine Corps second lieutenant, will help raise awareness for the campaign. Cincinnati selected Robinson in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he is serving in the reserves while pursuing his professional football career.
Help A Hero's impact is also reflected in this year's campaign through U.S. Army veteran Michael Ventura, a three-time scholarship recipient pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Texas State University. Ventura served more than three years in the Army, including time in South Korea, before eventually settling in Austin to pursue education and a career in creative writing. He will graduate in fall 2027, after serving as a teaching assistant and teaching creative writing at the Hays County Jail, using writing as an outlet for others the way it became one for him.
The VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program provides up to $5,000 per semester toward tuition and fees for veterans and service members ranking E-5 and below. To learn more, apply for a scholarship, and find stores participating in this year's campaign, visit SportClips.com/Hero.
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About Sport Clips Haircuts: Sport Clips Haircuts, founded in 1993 by U.S. Air Force veteran Gordon Logan, is a sports-themed haircare franchise specializing in haircuts for men and boys, with locations across the United States and Canada. Sport Clips supports veterans and service members through numerous programs, including its long-standing partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation through the Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero Scholarship program. Sport Clips is also a proud partner of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, offering professional stylists a stable, rewarding career path no matter where their military journey leads them. Learn more at SportClips.com.