The NYS Women, Inc. Buffalo Niagara Chapter (BNC) is proud to showcase successful local women who have given back to the Western New York community. “Women In Leadership” honorees are established women business owners or professional/working women who have exhibited leadership, enterprise, and excellence in their business or profession and give back to the Western New York or greater community. The goal of the program is to recognize women who have succeeded both in the business and charitable arenas and help inspire others to follow in their path.

Throughout the year a woman business owner or working woman will be featured. Each June, BNC will recognize all our honorees at an annual event.

Criteria

Established woman business owner or working/professional woman who:

• Exhibits leadership, enterprise, and excellence in their business;
• Gives back to Western New York or greater community with volunteer service 

Women In Leadership Application

May 2025 Honoree

Charlene Thomas
Founder & Executive Director, Haircuts For Those In Need, Inc.

Charlene Thomas started Haircuts For Those In Need, Inc. in May 2018, becoming a 501(c)3 in September 2019. Just prior to that, she had been a volunteer with Buffalo’s Good Neighbors, helping feed the unhoused at Fireman’s Park in downtown Buffalo. She realized many people looked disheveled, and wondered if a haircut would help boost their self esteem. Charlene took survey polls on the street to see who would be interested in a free haircut, and then reached out to every barber and stylist she knew, and sent out word on Facebook looking for help.

Haircuts For Those In Need provided its initial free haircuts on the first Sunday of May 2018 outdoors in the park. They would bring chairs, tables, supplies, tents, and even a portable generator. In March 2020, the nonprofit had to shut down, as many businesses did, because of Covid. What started out as a few weeks led to months, and ultimately two years. New rules and regulations enforced by New York made it impossible for Haircuts For Those In Need to follow through on its mission. The nonprofit took a pause, and Charlene focused on her business, Salon de Coquette.

Haircuts For Those In Need restarted in October 2022 with its first event at Project Homeless Connect. Since then, its board has reformed and it’s been hosting fundraisers to cover operational costs plus save for a mobile haircutting trailer. The trailer will be equipped with stations, hydraulic chairs, a sink for washing hair, and best yet, a shower for guests to use.

Charlene holds an associate’s degree in animal management at Niagara County Community College and, from Medaille College, both a bachelor’s degree in biology and an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. She has previously worked at two animal hospitals, and went on to work as a Research Technician Level lll at Buffalo BioLabs and University of Buffalo, working inside labs at Roswell Park researching chemotherapy. For a period of time she helped her now ex-husband run his plumbing business. (All of this while she continued working in salons part-time.)

Charlene has been working in salons since she was 16 years old and now owns Salon de Coquette which she opened in December 2018.