Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation Backs Cleveland’s Urban Kutz
Urban Kutz, a well-known Cleveland barbershop, is celebrating a major boost. The shop has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation. The award is part of the Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund, which supports beauty and wellness businesses making a difference in their communities.
Urban Kutz was one of just 37 businesses chosen from millions of international applicants. The recognition highlights the shop’s unique role as both a grooming space and a health hub. On Instagram, the team proudly wrote: “Out of millions of international applicants, WE WERE CHOSEN.”
The grant includes more than money. Urban Kutz will also receive mentorship, business development tools, and resources through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).
Urban Kutz Combines Haircuts and Health Screenings
Founded by Waverly Willis, Urban Kutz is one of Ohio’s largest minority-owned barbershop chains, with three locations in Cleveland. But it offers much more than fresh cuts and shaves. The barbershop is known for its health screenings, helping clients address serious medical issues before it’s too late.
The team partners with Case Western Reserve University to provide prostate cancer screenings. They also check blood pressure for clients during their visits. Willis explained how powerful this work can be: “We’ve had men in here, their blood pressure has been so high that we would tell them skip the haircut and go straight to the ER. They come back later and tell us they didn’t even know how they were walking around.”
These lifesaving interventions show how a local barbershop can serve as a frontline of community care.
Beyoncé’s Grant Supports Black-Owned Businesses
The $10,000 award from BeyGOOD represents Beyoncé’s ongoing commitment to uplifting Black-owned businesses. Her foundation has long championed entrepreneurs who face financial hardship while serving their communities.
For Urban Kutz, the grant will help expand services, support staff, and strengthen the shop’s role as a trusted community partner. The recognition also puts a national spotlight on Cleveland’s Black barbershops as cultural anchors and safe spaces.
As Willis shared with News 5 Cleveland, the grant is about more than money. It validates the years of effort Urban Kutz has poured into building a place where style, health, and community meet.
