Champ’s Barber School
Owner: Champ Hall
Location: Lancaster, PA
Business: Barber Shop and School
Purpose of Loan: Renovations and Equipment
Impact: Economic Security / Educational Opportunities
At age 13, Champ Hall got a bad haircut, so he picked up his dad’s clippers and fixed it. His career path was set, and in 1982, Champ became one of the youngest people in Pennsylvania to earn a barber license.
Over the next decade, Champ owned several barber shops in and around Lancaster City, but found funding hard to come by. He finally discovered Community First Fund and we’ve provided loans to buy and improve his shops ever since. In 2003, another loan from Community First Fund enabled Champ to open Lancaster’s first barber school.
Champ’s Barber School has since graduated more than 1,000 students who have gone on to become professional barbers, managers and barbering instructors themselves. Many students have opened their own shops across the country, creating jobs and supporting local economies. Thanks to Champ’s talent, vision and determination the next generation of barbers found their calling – and spared many a bad haircut.