Somers Woman Raises Money for Charity with 'Real' Men, Women Calendars

While going through a bad breakup Alyse Schiffman had a conversation with her mother that inspired her to start a successful new project.

The question was simple, Schiffman recalls. She was asked what type of guy she is looking for.

"I said, 'I don't like the kind of guy you see on the cover of a firemen's calendar, I like a guy with a beer gut and a beard," said Schiffman, 29.

She didn't know it yet, but the idea for the "Real Men" calendar was born.

Last year Schiffman created a calendar featuring men from throughout the region who prefer to spend time at a bar watching the game, working at their careers or staying home watching a movie. The men featured in the calendar are still easy on the eyes, the Somers resident said, but don't fit the stereotype of the models hung on the walls of teenagers.

The men she approached were excited about the idea and people she talked to believed the "Real Men" calendar could be a success.

"The fact that they were representing the real kind of guy and not the airbrushed, facade, kind of guy was pretty cool," said Schiffman, who is from Somers.

This year, Schiffman's newfound company BeerGuts N Beards International INC. is debuting a woman's calendar with the same ideals. Either calendar can be purchased for $15.

"Everyone is, like, all about it," Schiffman said. "They think it's a great idea, something that hasn't been done before."

Schiffman will promote the 2013 calendars while making donations to a children's cancer charity on Dec. 1 at The Wicked Wolf in White Plains. Men from the calendar will be auctioned out for dates and donated prizes will be raffled off.

All proceeds from the event will be donated.

"I'm doing it to raise money and it's cool," said Schiffman, who works as a hairdresser at Armonk's Cherylyn North Salon. "It makes me feel good."

Last year alone she raised between $2,500 and $3,000 and hopes to exceed that amount at this year's fundraiser.

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Calendar Men of 2013 are:

Mr. Jan- Matt Masi, Somers
Mr. Feb- Tim Dever, Brewster
Mr. March- Daniel Agostino, Somers
Mr. April- Dominic Gasparino, Armonk
Mr. May- Ricky Mancini, Somers
Mr. June- John Wool, Harrison
Mr. July- Dan Holland, Stamford CT
Mr. August- Ryan Von Heyn, Somers
Mr. September- Michael Will, Somers
Mr. October- Jose Rosado, Philadelphia PA
Mr. November- Christopher McCarron, Boston MA
Mr. December- Nicholas Masci, Mahopac

Calendar Women of 2013 are:

Ms. Jan- Jovan Zeolla, Mahopac
Ms. Feb- Christina DiLeo, Brewster
Ms. March- Brittany McCarron, Boston Mass
Ms. April- Alessandra Cacciotti, Brewster
Ms. May- Lenora Zee, Long Island
Ms. June- Deanna Merlino, Carmel
Ms. July- Annie O'Hagan, Armonk
Ms. August- Maressa Drake, Somers
Ms. September- Jeanne Santonocito, Bronx
Ms. October- Serena Chryssikos, Somers
Ms. November- Brittany Page, Oradell NJ
Ms. December- Tricia Barrett, North Salem

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