While Milan Dennie receives donations to help fund his free back-to-school haircuts and backpack give-aways at his barbershop along St. Paul’s University Avenue, much of it still comes out of his own pocket.

“Last year, we did just short of 200 haircuts,” said Dennie, who will host another day of free youth haircuts at King Milan’s Barbershop on Sept. 2. “We gave away over 300 backpacks.”

This year, he’ll keep kids entertained with an all-day barbecue, 100 desserts donated by McDonald’s, and a free raffle for four baseball tickets donated by the St. Paul Saints, among other prizes.

For the last two years, a woman visited with 200 cupcakes as well as an iguana, guinea pigs, snakes and small dogs and set up an impromptu petting zoo.

MORE THAN JUST ONE DAY OF GIVING

But Dennie, who himself grew up at times desperately poor, is thinking beyond just a single day of giving back.

His longtime dream is to create an entrepreneurial mentoring program for low-income kids, especially kids who are growing up like he did — without a father or a steadily-employed adult in the home — and prepare them to become future business owners.

“It’s actually something I went through growing up,” Dennie said. “My mom was sick so she really couldn’t work. Other kids, they had really nice stuff and you have to go to school with those kids, and they’ve got on brand new Jordan’s (sneakers), and you’ve got on your brother’s hand-me-downs. You are going to get bullied and chastised. Parents do their best, but stuff is expensive.”

When he senses the same desperation in the children he comes across, his heart breaks.

“So many kids out here ask me, ‘Man, you’ve got a job for me?’ And I feel bad,” Dennie said. “I went on to college. I have a few credentials.”

His dream recently took a major step forward.

IRS TAX STATUS

Dennie’s nonprofit — “It’s Our Neighborhood, Inc.” — recently received official IRS tax status, and he printed t-shirts with the title. On Aug. 16, the nonprofit donated $500 to Antwan Kimmons, a longtime customer and Tartan High School graduate who was accepted to the University of Northern Iowa on a basketball scholarship.

Kimmons, who was raised largely by his mother, is the inaugural recipient of It’s Our Neighborhood’s fundraising efforts.

“When he gets older, he’s going to remember that,” Dennie said. “‘Hey, I’m the first one!’ It’s been kind of cool to watch him grow up and do some positive things, instead of all the negativity that we see. They never put the positive stuff on the news, but as soon as you do something bad, it’s there.”

Related Articles Minneapolis man pleads guilty to torching University Avenue business during May unrest

Charges: 17-year-old shot 15-year-old in face during marijuana deal in St. Paul

Man, 38, dies of apparent natural causes at Ramsey County jail

St. Paul district to wait on reopening schools, citing lack of staff

Sept. 30 is last day for public comment on Pigs Eye Lake makeover Dennie said he got through tough times by channeling his entrepreneurial energy and offering haircuts to all the kids in his neighborhood, and then their parents and grandparents — and by looking to a higher power.

“I’ve been a praying young dude,” he said.

He’s giving himself a year to get his nonprofit’s core services off the ground, and he thinks he’s chosen the right community to launch in. “All the years I’ve done it in Indiana, I never got one donation,” he said. “I come here, and it’s been good. And we get known!”

From 9 a.m. onward on Sept. 2, King Milan’s Barbershop at 511 University Ave. W. will offer free haircuts for kids and teens returning to school, as well as backpacks while supplies last. The last haircut will likely be scheduled by 3 p.m. More information is online at facebook.com/www.kingmilansbarbershop.