Celebrating a young life :: Yakovleff benefit raises $4000

About 150 people gathered for a night of fabulous haircuts for a good cause at a June 30 fundraiser to honor the life of Daniel Yakovleff, including his father Nord Yakovleff (pictured here). iYakoleff's friends teamed up with his former employer, Liquid Hair Studios in the South End, and his favorite hangout, Sister Sorel, to raise money for a scholarship fund at Blaine, the cosmetology school where Yakovleff received his training. Elle Jarvis, who organized the fundraiser, said that she promoted the event largely through word of mouth and through flyers throughout the neighborhood, and the event went off without a hitch.

"Everything went better than planned, it honestly couldn't have gone more smoothly," said Jarvis.

She said the crowd consisted mostly of people who had known Yakovleff and wanted to celebrate his life. Yakovleff's parents came up from Ashford, Connecticut to attend the fundraiser.

"I would say it was majority of close friends," said Jarvis. "Between the hairdressing world and the Sister Sorel world, almost everyone who was there had known Dan and all he'd had to offer."

Yakovleff's murder remains unsolved. Police found him stabbed to death in the Dorchester apartment of Steven Odegard, but there have not been any arrests in the case.

The first part of the event was held at Liquid, where Yakovleff worked for the last two years. Hair stylists at Liquid and Southie's Shag salon donated their services for the night, and in exchange for a $20 donation attendees received a haircut.

Across the street at Sister Sorel, Yakovleff's friends gathered for drinks and to celebrate his memory. Despite the challenge of coordinating the event across two venues, Jarvis said it all ran smoothly.

"The haircuts went extremely smoothly, it just worked out perfectly," said Jarvis.

In just one evening the event brought in over $4000 for the scholarship fund, and Jarvis said since that evening other people have pledged to donate money to the fund. The scholarship will be awarded to a young adult, chosen by Jarvis and Yakovleff's parents, based on an essay contest. Jarvis and the family will work closely with Blaine in selecting a recipient.

"We will personally choose somebody who holds the same values and passion for life Daniel had," said Jarvis.

Towards the end of the fundraiser attendees held an ashing ceremony for Yakovleff, during which his parents read a poem and spread his ashes in the flowerbed in front of Liquid.

"There were definitely parts that were somber," noted Jarvis. "But for the most part, it was a celebration."
- Rachel Kossman