ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. (Dec. 15, 2025) — Earlier this week, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee exploited a rarely used provision in state law to slash $645 million in state funding for crucial programs supporting Michigan’s children, communities, and economy. Among those unexpectedly hit by these cuts is Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids, a non-profit organization based in St. Clair Shores who provides wigs and support services at no charge to children experiencing hair loss due to cancer and other serious health conditions.
“Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids is not waste. They’re not fraud or abuse. They’re a trusted organization in our community who provides critical services to improve the lives of children facing unimaginable circumstances,” said Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). “To deliberately mischaracterize their work to score cheap political points is just wrong. As we sort through the ramifications of this action and determine the best path forward, I stand committed to working with anyone, regardless of party, to correct this and ensure this organization and the kids they serve aren’t the ones left paying the price for House leadership’s cruel gimmicks.”
State funding is vital to Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids, as Michigan is one of a few states where insurance companies are not required by law to cover the cost of wigs for children like they would any other prosthetic. That’s why, in addition to sponsoring a legislative solution to the issue, Sen. Hertel worked across the aisle to secure grants for the organization in multiple state budgets to allow them to help more children across the state.
This year, Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids planned to use the remaining $56,600 of their grant to purchase custom wigs for their clients, but due to tariffs and ongoing supply chain issues, shipments that normally take three months are now taking up to six. As a result, the organization has not yet been billed for the wigs — making it appear on paper as though these funds from the 2025 State Budget went unspent, when in reality, the money is already committed. To avoid any disruption in fulfilling these orders, the organization worked with the state to allow this funding to carry over into the new fiscal year. But with the House’s unexpected cuts now stripping that funding away, Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids is left in limbo, along with the children counting on them.
“While our organization receives tremendous support from many generous community members, this budget cut seriously threatens our operational capacity,” said Maggie Varney, Founder and CEO of Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan. “As a nonprofit, we’re not unfamiliar with unpredictable funding. However, when the state commits to a grant, we rely on that promise and budget accordingly. To have these funds ripped away from our organization simply because the wigs we purchased have a delayed arrival is unconscionable. Not only were we counting on those funds to be available, but the kids we serve were counting on us.”
As Sen. Hertel and his colleagues work to understand the full impact of this action on people and programs around the state, you can find additional updates at SenatorKevinHertel.com.