Hi! I’m Josif Wittnik.
Stylist, educator, TV personality, and founder of Trim Hunger.
It all started with a desire to prove that stylists, like myself, can make a difference in the community when we come together. Parents kept telling me they didn’t want their children enrolling in my school to learn a “hobby.” In 2016, my students at the Salon Professional Academy held our first cut-a-thon. We raised $5,000 for the local Boys and Girls Club.
That was just the beginning! We did it again with other salons and stylists throughout the community joining us for the cause. We raised even more money. And Trim Hunger was born.
We raise dollars to end hunger.
As a stylist, we hear stories all day long. Stories that will break your heart. Students who go home at the end of the school day to a home with no food. I want to help with that. I want to help fill the shelves of local food pantries and school resource centers.
I’ve been in the hair industry for more than 40 years. I travel the world teaching audiences about hair fashion, coloring, cutting, scalp care, hair restoration and wigs. I owned a spa and salon in the community for more than 20 years. I own an academy for aspiring professionals in the industry. I have a regular spot on a local morning news program, giving local residents life-changing makeovers. I want to use all those platforms to make a difference in the community. I wanted to share the love, from my heart, to help others who can’t afford to put food on the table.
We may have started with a cut-a-thon, but we have found other ways to contribute to the community. My beautiful wife, Joy, had a great idea! How can we get kids to learn about “nutritious” foods? And foster healthy habits? We held our first “Little Chefs” event involving my hometown school district. Students worked with local professional chefs to prepare recipes and then serve them on several nights at local restaurants. The money raised went toward building gardens and hoop houses for the school.
Eight years later, Trim Hunger’s biggest fundraising event is Grateful Groove. It’s my vision for an old-fashioned variety show that brings together my talented friends and local professionals for a night of heartwarming holiday music. It’s a truly magical night. Funds raised have gone to local food pantries and holiday meals for those in need.
Several years ago, I experienced a traumatic brain injury while traveling with Joy for a family wedding in Jamaica. Following my recovery, came a desire to paint. All of a sudden, I’m a painter! I’ve been using my art sales to help fund the mission of Trim Hunger. Recently we used my works of art to create one-of-a-kind merchandise for sale in our web store.
And you’ll see me around town, driving the Trim Hunger mobile! You can’t miss it! We take it shopping for supplies, load it up, and drive it to local pantries to fill those shelves! I hope you’ll come along on our journey to end hunger in the Fox Cities and beyond.
Much love.
Join our journey and donate here.
-Josif