Back to School Glow Up 2025: A Day of Confidence, Care, and Community
On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Angela Johnson Legacy Foundation (AJLF), in partnership with The CORE Foundation, transformed the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown into a hub of love, care, and empowerment for Montgomery County students.
The Back to School Glow Up was more than just an event, it was a statement. A statement that every child deserves to walk into the first day of school feeling confident, cared for, and ready to succeed. Here is how it went.
Professional Hairstyles and Haircuts: Local talent showed up in a big way. Five barbers: Matt Diggs of The Showroom Mobile Barbershop, Fooks The Barber, Yova The Barber, Icy The Barber, and Rene Holtman and four stylists: Favour of Style Plus Salon, Nisha, Isabel Alonso, and Seray of Styled by Renegade volunteered their time and skill to give kids fresh, stylish looks. From fades and trims to braids, curls, and twists, every student left with their heads held a little higher.
School Supply Kits and Backpacks: Thanks to The CORE Foundation, students received backpacks packed with notebooks, paper, folders, pencils, erasers, colored pencils, and pens. In total, 120 backpacks were given away, along with 600+ school essentials.
Health and Wellness Support: Vision and hearing screenings were available courtesy of the Rockville Lions Club.
Nourishment: Chick-fil-A Germantown sponsored sandwiches, and snacks and drinks were provided to keep families refreshed and energized.
The Impact in Numbers:
● 90+ students and their families served
● 31 schools represented (15 elementary, 11 middle, 5 high schools)
● 66 registered students, 22 attended; 71 walk-ins welcomed
● 15 volunteers contributing 52+ hours of service
But beyond the numbers, the atmosphere told the real story. Laughter filled the halls. Parents shared gratitude and relief. Kids checked out their new cuts in the mirrors, grinning. Families connected with community partners like The Lions Club Rockville, 5 Starr Enterprise, and HD Photo, strengthening the bonds that make our county strong.
This event was more than backpacks and braids, it was about dignity. It was about showing students, some of whom face challenges beyond the classroom, that they are seen, valued, and supported.
Testimonies:
“I pay $140 for my boys to get their haircuts, and this relieved that financial burden for me.”
“I can’t thank AJLF enough for this. With three kids, back-to-school shopping can be overwhelming, but this event eased so much of that stress. My children are having fun and I feel supported by my community.”
“This is such a blessing. Seeing my daughter walk out with her hair braided with her new hello kitty backpack means the world to me. Thank you so much and we hope you do this again.”
We are deeply grateful to our partners and supporters: [link IG profiles]● The CORE Foundation (@thecore_foundation)
● BlackRock Center for the Arts (@blackrockcenter)
● The Lions Club Rockville (@lionsclubs)
● Chick-fil-A Germantown (@cfa.germantownmd)
● 5 Starr Enterprise (@5starrenterprise, @wildchilddna)
● Barbers (5)
○ Matt Diggs (@theshowroombarber)
○ Fooks The Barber (@fooksthebarber)
○ Yova The Barber (@cruzyova)
○ Icy The Barber (@icydabarber)
○ Rene Holtman (@r3naissance_man)
● Stylists (4) ○ Favour (@styleplussalon)
○ Nisha (@leinishaa_monyah, @styleplussalon)
○ Seray (@styledbyrenegade_ceo)
○ Isabel Alosno
At AJLF, we believe in community and service. The Back to School Glow Up proved that when we come together, we can make a significant impact.
Want to be part of next year’s event? Stay connected with us! Follow us on social media. Together, we can make sure every student starts their school year strong, confident, and ready to shine.
