Sheriff's office members helping to raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation include: front, from left, Captain Brian Karenbauer, Sheriff Mike Slupe, Sergeant Pat Walker, Deputy Eric McCall; middle, from left, Deputy Jeff Wolfe, Deputy Rachel Klingensmith, Lieutenant Bill Luchkiw, Deputy Terry Walker, Deputy Brandon Huffman; back, from left, Sergeant Harry Callithen, Sergeant Jodi Thompson, Deputy Mark Wilson and Deputy Bobbiejo Warren. For a $20 donation, men can grow their beards and women can wear their hair down.

Sheriff Mike Slupe and his deputies at the Butler County Sheriff's Office are growing out their beards and letting their hair down for a good cause, benefitting families of first-responders.

Beginning in November, male deputies were allowed grow a beard and female deputies were allowed to wear their hair down. The cost for this privilege is $20, and all the proceeds from the fundraising effort will be donated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

“I know Tunnel to Towers will give to first-responders who died in the line of duty,” Slupe said. “I can't think of a better charity that recognizes the sacrifices of first-responders, law enforcement and military.”

So far, the deputies have raised about $850, but it is expected to be closer to $1,000 by the end of December. Slupe said he hopes to reach the $1,100 mark, honoring of the lives lost in the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The foundation itself was created in honor of a New York City firefighter, Stephen Gerard Siller, who on the day of the attacks drove his truck to the entrance of Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

“Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others,” said the foundation's website.

The foundation features multiple programs, all of which provide assistance for injured first-responders or for the families of first-responders who died in the line of duty. To date, the organization has committed more than $2500 million to its programs.

“It's an honor to donate to this cause because those first-responders sacrificed it all,” said Deputy Brandon Huffman.

A contributor, Huffman is currently sporting a beard, though he's keeping it short and groomed as requested. He said he still appreciates the fun side of the fundraising effort as much as he respects the meaning behind the donation.

“This is the first time in 12 years I've been able to grow one,” Huffman said.

Fellow contributor Deputy Bobbiejo Warren brought the women of the office into the plans, as it had originally been designed fully around beards.

Warren had the idea for female deputies to let their hair down during most times of the day. The deputies still needed to put their hair up during prisoner transport for safety reasons.

“I do like having my hair down, but for the job, it's better having it up,” she said. “Some people donated, and they didn't even participate.”

As of Jan. 3, the hair trend will end in the sheriff's office, and the funds will be sent to Tunnel to Towers. Slupe said the money raised by his office will be accompanied by some that community members have decided to donate.

Slupe said anyone who wishes to donate alongside their fundraising effort is encouraged to donate directly to Tunnel to Towers.

Direct donations can be made at www.t2t.org. The website also has a printable donation form that can be mailed to 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306.