Tom Serratore is looking for the next Tom Serratore.
Back in 2007, the Tinley Park native was a freshman in football and baseball at Andrew High School, where he took part in an event at St. Baldrick's. At the time, St. Baldrick's Church was new to the Chicago area and became wildly popular.
The idea is simple. People raise money for children's cancer research by shaving their heads at events usually held in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Serratore and nine others lost their hair at a meeting at the Thunderbolts athletic field.
“I grew my hair out and it became quite thick,” Serratore recalled. “It was quite a long time. It was windy and my hair was flying all over the place. I was very proud that as a freshman I was one of the top 10 fundraisers for this.”
“All my friends and peers have to watch me do this. Of course, everyone wants to touch your head, and those are the main memories I have.”
And it didn't stop. Although St. Baldrick's events in the Chicago area are not as large as they were back then, they still occur around the world. Over the course of 18 years, Serratore not only shaved his head 20 times, but also helped organize St. Baldrick's events in various cities across the United States.
In mid-November, Serratore was named to the board of directors of the St. Baldrick's Foundation. He is now the assistant head coach of the Texas Christian University women's soccer team. He said he hopes to use the platform to encourage young men and women to participate in St. Baldrick's events and share the same passion he has had for many years.
“How do we get the next generation of me?” – Serratore said. “I started as a freshman in high school and have been doing this for almost 20 years. Where is the next group of kids who are already in high school or college who want to do this for 20 years?
“Hopefully we can inspire those kids. That's probably my No. 1 goal. How do we get young kids and the next generation to put in the time and effort and help spread the word about St. Baldrick's?”
District 230 Superintendent Robert Nolting has no doubt Serratore can spread the word. Nolting was Andrew's principal when Serratore was in school and was impressed not only by his love for St. Baldrick's, but also by other causes, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“He’s one of the best,” Nolting said. “He was a great leader in Andrew. When I first met him, I felt like he was 10 years ahead of his time. He had the ability to articulate what was important to him. He had the ability to influence other kids to do things for others that they didn't even think about.”
“He is always willing to help people who are in unfortunate situations.”
Serratore has nothing but praise for his time at Andrew and says the school made him into the person he is today.
But some of his best work for the foundation came after he left school.
He played football at Valparaiso University and was ready to shave his dome again, but there was a problem.
“There was no event and I really wanted to keep doing it,” he said. “I went to the coaches of the football team and asked if there was anything we could do. They said yes, and we organized an event at a local hair salon.”
Serratore said 30 people attended the event and the first event raised several thousand dollars. By the time he left, the number of participants had exceeded 100, raising $90,000.
He has organized events in Eugene, Oregon and his current home, Fort Worth, Texas.
“Every place I’ve been, I’ve always organized events there,” he said. “Some of these places, in St. Baldrick’s, were unknown.”
And his whole crusade began with Andrew.
“I heard about this crazy head-shaving event and thought it would be cool,” Serratore said. “One of my friends had leukemia at the time, so it was a way to honor him at the time.
“I played football. I played baseball. I did everything. I couldn't go to the hospital every single day, so this was one way to honor his memory, and for Andrew it was very important.”
For him it still is.
“I’m certainly excited to be a part of this and help the foundation on another level,” Serratore said. “I have a lot of experience in organizing events and finding young people who are excited to raise money and get involved in childhood cancer research.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
