Local Boy Donating Long Hair to Locks Of Love

Jerry Brown Jr.  is getting his first haircut today, June 15, and he’s donating his fallen locks to charity, according to a press release

The 14-year-old, who lives in the New Port Richey area, will have his long locks cut at 1 p.m. at the Great Clips in the Mitchell Ranch Shopping Plaza at SR-54 and Little Road in Trinity.

He's donating the shed tresses to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that donates hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children and teenagers who are experiencing hair loss for medical reasons.

Jerry’s long hair attracted much attention, according to a press release from his mother. He’s been mistaken for a girl, especially when was younger.  He would always respond with "I am a boy, I just have long hair," according to the press release.

Jerry’s father, who works for Pasco County Fire Rescue, is of Cherokee Indian heritage. He had long hair. Jerry was interested in his Cherokee heritage from a young age and felt keeping his hair long was a way of honoring it, according to the release.

Jerry attends Ingram’s Karate Center and participates in its monthly Leadership program, in which students create a team and participate in activities,  the release stated.  

Jerry, who has won awards for his Kumite fighting performance, has brought flowers to veterans in the hospital and collected goods to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.  

He has decided to cut his hair in preparation for his first semester in high school this fall.

Jerry has attended Genesis Schools since he was 3 and is entering the 9^th grade at Genesis Preparatory School in the fall, according to the press release.

He started talking about cutting his hair when he got older, especially when his father shaved his head a few years ago, according to the release. His father talked to him about Locks of Love and saved his cut, braided hair to donate when his son gives his donation, the release states.