American Mustache Institute
Encyclopedia
The American Mustache Institute (AMI) is an advocacy organization and registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in St. Louis, Missouri. When founded in 1965, by Dr. SCHNURRBART SNOR, AMI was the only organization in the world working towards facial hair advocacy. AMI’s full-time staff supports a more than 700 global chapters which advocate for greater acceptance of mustaches in the workplace and throughout modern culture.
Efforts by AMI have included a 2007 campaign against "widespread and unacceptable discrimination in the workplace and society," as chronicled by media including the Daily Telegraph and The Learning Channel. In December 2007, AMI lobbied the Royse City, Texas School District] on behalf of student Sebastian Pham, who had been forced by a teacher to shave his mustache, which in the opinion of Pham's family and AMI had violated his civil liberties. Additionally, the New York Times cited AMI as an example of modern online community building.
Part of the organization’s charter includes supporting communities in which it works, and therefore AMI created a charitable fundraising mechanism in 2006 for organizations such as Challenger Baseball, a baseball league for disabled children. AMI's first charitable fundraiser—'Stache Bash 2006 — was held in July 2006. The event raised awareness of the issue of mustache acceptance, supported mustachioed Americans, and raised funds for Challenger Baseball. The organization held its second ‘Stache Bash in 2007, and just prior USA Today wrote the event was part of AMI's efforts to "to protect the rights of, and bias against, mustached Americans." As part of 'Stache Bash 2007, AMI also conducted voting for the “Greatest Sports Mustache” of all time, which was won in a popular vote by former Major League Baseball player Keith Hernandez
as announced by AMI in August of 2007. Ultimately, the event raised enough funds to allow Challenger Baseball to add six new teams for the 2008 campaign.
On Monday, July 7, the AMI placed its support behind Jason Giambi
, in a hope their endorsement would spark a flurry of votes for someone whose, in Aaron Perlut's, Executive Director of AMI, own words, “significant first-half production as well as his powerful lip fur – indicating great intellect and good looks – make two very compelling reasons for his place on the American League All-Star roster.” . This move sent a ripple through both major and lesser known sites and blogs. The New York Yankees
accepted and incorporated this endorsement into their already growing package supporting Giambi, and his mustache, climaxing in a stadium promotion, the first mustache giveaway in Yankee history, where the first 20,000 fans received a fake mustache in support of Giambi's.
In September 2008, the AMI honored the late entertainer Robert Goulet
in working with his spouse, Vera Goulet, to name an award in his honor, "The Robert Goulet Mustached American of the Year" award, recognizing the most impactful Mustached American of the past year. On October 25, 2008, retired New York City policeman Timothy P. Galvin was named the winner of the first ever "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year."
In October 2009, AMI and Quicken
commissioned a study entitled “Saving And Spending Patterns of Mustached Americans.” The research study examined a random sample of 2,000 Mustached Americans, along with 2,000 bearded and 2,000 clean-shaven Americans and found that Mustached Americans earned 8.2 percent more on average than those with beards and 4.3 percent more than the clean-shaven. The research also demonstrated that people of Mustached American descent also tended to spend 11 percent more and save 3 percent less than their collective counterparts.
Efforts by AMI have included a 2007 campaign against "widespread and unacceptable discrimination in the workplace and society," as chronicled by media including the Daily Telegraph and The Learning Channel. In December 2007, AMI lobbied the Royse City, Texas School District] on behalf of student Sebastian Pham, who had been forced by a teacher to shave his mustache, which in the opinion of Pham's family and AMI had violated his civil liberties. Additionally, the New York Times cited AMI as an example of modern online community building.
Part of the organization’s charter includes supporting communities in which it works, and therefore AMI created a charitable fundraising mechanism in 2006 for organizations such as Challenger Baseball, a baseball league for disabled children. AMI's first charitable fundraiser—'Stache Bash 2006 — was held in July 2006. The event raised awareness of the issue of mustache acceptance, supported mustachioed Americans, and raised funds for Challenger Baseball. The organization held its second ‘Stache Bash in 2007, and just prior USA Today wrote the event was part of AMI's efforts to "to protect the rights of, and bias against, mustached Americans." As part of 'Stache Bash 2007, AMI also conducted voting for the “Greatest Sports Mustache” of all time, which was won in a popular vote by former Major League Baseball player Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez
Keith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
as announced by AMI in August of 2007. Ultimately, the event raised enough funds to allow Challenger Baseball to add six new teams for the 2008 campaign.
On Monday, July 7, the AMI placed its support behind Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.He was the American League MVP in 2000 while with the Oakland Athletics, and is a five-time All-Star who has led the American League in walks four times, in on base percentage...
, in a hope their endorsement would spark a flurry of votes for someone whose, in Aaron Perlut's, Executive Director of AMI, own words, “significant first-half production as well as his powerful lip fur – indicating great intellect and good looks – make two very compelling reasons for his place on the American League All-Star roster.” . This move sent a ripple through both major and lesser known sites and blogs. The New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
accepted and incorporated this endorsement into their already growing package supporting Giambi, and his mustache, climaxing in a stadium promotion, the first mustache giveaway in Yankee history, where the first 20,000 fans received a fake mustache in support of Giambi's.
In September 2008, the AMI honored the late entertainer Robert Goulet
Robert Goulet
Robert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
in working with his spouse, Vera Goulet, to name an award in his honor, "The Robert Goulet Mustached American of the Year" award, recognizing the most impactful Mustached American of the past year. On October 25, 2008, retired New York City policeman Timothy P. Galvin was named the winner of the first ever "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year."
In October 2009, AMI and Quicken
Quicken
Quicken is a personal finance management tool developed by Intuit, Inc.Quicken runs on Windows and Macintosh systems. Previous versions ran on DOS. An online version is also available. The last version of Quicken for Macintosh computers was Quicken Essentials for Mac released in February 2010...
commissioned a study entitled “Saving And Spending Patterns of Mustached Americans.” The research study examined a random sample of 2,000 Mustached Americans, along with 2,000 bearded and 2,000 clean-shaven Americans and found that Mustached Americans earned 8.2 percent more on average than those with beards and 4.3 percent more than the clean-shaven. The research also demonstrated that people of Mustached American descent also tended to spend 11 percent more and save 3 percent less than their collective counterparts.