Mohawk Mission: CEO Yachti’s Bold Move to Support St. Jude’s!

On a cold December morning in Chicago, something inspiring was underway. We caught up with Liam Poczatek, CEO of Yachti (not to be confused with rapper Lil Yachty), at Chicago’s SOHO Atelier Salon. The mission? A free, blazing red mohawk, courtesy of salon owner Benito Barron.

But this wasn’t just a style statement—it was a statement of support. Mr. Barron’s generous gift is his way of giving back and amplifying Liam’s incredible, annual quest to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC.

We sat down with Liam while he got his new haircut to dive into the why behind his dedicated efforts.

The Power of Responsibility (& Video Practice!)

Liam’s motivation is rooted in a fundamental belief: “I believe that we all have a responsibility to do good and raise awareness about important topics.” 

When Chicago boating season wraps up, Liam spends a month accepting challenges in exchange for donations to St. Jude’s hospital, documenting everything on his social media account. He shared that these monthly charity challenges, while “very difficult,” serve a dual purpose: doing good and practicing his video-making skills.

The connection to St. Jude’s began years ago after attending one of their annual events and learning about their vital cause. Since then, he has had the opportunity to meet several St. Jude patients and former patients.

A History of Philanthropic Leadership

Liam’s dedication is long-standing.

• He has dedicated a month to St. Jude’s for three years.
• He previously served as the philanthropy chair of his DePaul University fraternity, and he remains a national member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
• He was very active with Envision Unlimited.
• He founded a non-profit to train a tattoo artist to provide free cosmetic tattoos to breast cancer survivors.

$$ The Impact So Far $$

Liam is making a real-time difference: “This month, we’re around $1,100.” Liam notes that he always receives a much-appreciated handwritten thank-you note from a hospital board member.

Favorite Charities and Vetting Advice

Beyond St. Jude’s, Liam is a strong advocate for Envision Unlimited, which focuses on building community and support for people living with disabilities, and No Salt Sailing, led by Captain William Shehan, offering free sailing programs for our Veterans.

His advice for anyone considering a donation? Vet your non-profit!

“When interacting with a non-profit, it’s important to vet them, and so any nonprofit I suggest will always have an A+ rating for donation utilization.”

The Ultimate Challenge

When asked about the craziest thing he’s done for charity, Liam pointed to a very unpleasant experience: “I think the most difficult challenge I’ve done has to be chugging Cod Liver Oil.”

But today’s mission focused on red dye and clippers. The free mohawk from Benito Barron was the big one coming up—a vibrant symbol of his commitment. 

Liam hopes people enjoy engaging with these campaigns and welcomes new ideas for future challenges!

A huge thank you to Liam J. Poczatek for the interview and for showing us how one person can leverage creativity and kindness for a massive cause. And thank you to Benito Barron and SOHO Atelier for literally helping him raise the roof for St. Jude’s!

What’s the most creative way you or your company has supported a charity? Share in the comments!

Want to know more about SoHo Salons and Benito Barron?

Benito Barron is a highly accomplished stylist and entrepreneur, operating two premier SOHO salon locations—SoHo Salon & Spa in Holland, Michigan, and SoHo Atelier in Chicago. In addition to owning his salons, Benito is well known in the industry as a celebrity stylist, frequently working with actors in television shows and films produced in the Chicago area.

Want to know more about Yachti?

With a home base at Navy Pier Marina, Yachti offers water taxi services, adventure tours, and whatever else you might need!  

#StJudes #CharityChallenge #RedMohawk #SOHOAltier #GivingBack #NonProfit #MakeADifference #LinkedInForGood #Yachti