Does a Bradenton man have the most benevolent beard in the country? You can help decide.
Matthew Nadu, a full-bearded former actor turned sustainable agriculture activist, has been chosen as one of five beard-wearing finalists in Wahl’s “Benevolent Beard” competition, in which bearded men from across the US submitted videos of themselves talking about the causes they support.
And if he wins, he’ll not only get money for himself, but groomer Wahl will also come by for a fundraiser. For every free, professional beard trim they give to the public, $100 will go to Nadu’s chosen charity, ECHO Farms in Fort Myers. Up to $5,000.
What is the Wahl Benevolent Beard Contest?
Wahl’s Benevolent Beard contest recognizes men who support causes that positively impact the world. And who have beards.
All charities were considered, as long as they were 501(c)(3) organizations with positive goals, and five finalists were chosen. Now the public decides by voting on bit.ly/BenevolentBeards.
Voting is open until September 9, 2024.
What does the winner of the Benevolent Beard contest win?
If Nadu wins, he will receive $20,000 and be named the new “Wahl Man of the Year,” a title with a proud nickname that boasts of a “bearded fraternity that has been around for 17 years,” according to Wahl.
Wahl will also be hosting a charity fundraiser with a visit from Wahl’s Mobile Barbership. Members of the public can stop by for a free professional beard trim, and for every trim Wahl will donate an additional $100 to the winner’s charity up to $5,000.
Each of the five finalists has already won $500 for themselves, $500 for their charity and toiletries.
Who is Matthew Nadu?
Nadu is a former Philadelphia sports columnist, actor, producer, model, adventure content creator, and now co-founder of a company that promotes edible landscapes and food forests throughout Florida. He’s had a busy life.
“See this beard, right here?” he asked in an Instagram video posted Thursday. “This thing used to make me tens of thousands of dollars.
“It was darker and there were no grays in it anymore, but now you can monetize it on a whole other level,” he said.
Nadu was living the adventurous life of a traveling content creator, living on a sailboat out of Los Angeles when the pandemic hit in 2020. That first year, he met and married his wife, moved to Florida, and began growing food in response to the collapse of supply chains and the substandard food available.
“When we started our company Bring Back Eden, we started building food forests for people. Men started coming together. We started building a community. We started finding a passion, a purpose, and most importantly, by being a steward of the land, as the Bible calls us to do, they started finding God,” he said.
Which charity does Matthew Nadu support with the Benevolent Beard contest?
ECHO Inc. in Fort Myers is a faith-based organization dedicated to fighting hunger around the world by providing resources and training in sustainable farming methods that adapt to changing weather patterns. They work with local NGOs, farmers, volunteers and missionaries and focus on small-scale agricultural solutions.
“These guys are amazing,” Nadu said. “They’re from Florida. They’re faith-based. They’re building regenerative food systems all over the world. They’re moving people from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. And they’re not just helping them grow food, but in doing so, they’re helping them find purpose and reconnect with God.”
Who are the finalists of the Benevolent Beard competition?
Besides Nadu, the finalists are:
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Amos Albert from Chicago, IL, is a U.S. Navy veteran who was honorably discharged after an injury in the line of duty. In 2019, he attended a professional basketball game with Operation Warrior Wishes, an organization that brings thousands of veterans to professional sporting events for free, and dedicated his time to the cause with the mission of honoring military heroes and bringing veterans from the battlefield to the ballpark.
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Joshua Buchter from Philadelphia, PA, is a marketing professional who has donated his expertise to organizing fundraising events for Little Smiles, a charity whose mission is to heal hearts and create little smiles by providing gifts and fun activities to children affected by serious illness, tragedy or trauma.
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Jaime Herder from Los Angeles, CA, lost his 18-year-old cousin Kam to gun violence in 2020. That was the beginning of Smile 4 Kam. The charity provides college scholarships, financial literacy, job search coaching, and mentorship to the youth of South Central Los Angeles.
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Rodney Smith Jr. from Huntsville, AL, was driving and saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn, so he stopped to help. He started mowing lawns for the elderly and disabled in his community, which grew into a national organization with over 5,000 children called Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Inc.
This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida ‘Benevolent Beard’ finalist working to create food forests
