Taking Up the Fight
A Tri-State businessman has turned his success into good fortune for others
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
Shane Azar-Myers opened UV Bronze Tanning in Waynesboro in 2012 to provide the area with affordable tanning. Before stepping out on his own, he had worked in the business for several years, learning the intricacies of operating a salon. So, he knew what it would take to be successful.
Since then, he’s continued to expand UV Bronze Tanning throughout the Tri-State by opening salons in Greencastle in 2013, Hagerstown in 2017, and Shippensburg in 2023. Beyond offering traditional tanning services, Azar-Myers’ salons offer seven levels of UV tanning, leg tanners, red light therapy, customized sunless spray tanning, professional teeth whitening, and the newest addition to the tanning world, the Velocity Bed, which provides a powerful ultra-high pressure experience that gives long-lasting color for both fairer-skinned and dark-skinned customers.
But Shane’s contributions to providing affordable and safe places to tan have hardly been his only contribution to the community.
Charity is at the heart of all he does.
“I started doing charities in 2013 when my nephew Cameron Myers was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at the age of two. He unfortunately passed at the age of three on February 2, 2014. Since then, we have held numerous charity and fundraising events to help families in need and cancer fighters,” Azar-Myers says.
In the decade since his nephew’s diagnosis, Shane has turned a tragedy into an inspiring story of goodwill by working tirelessly to provide help, support, and kindness to his communities by sponsoring charity and fundraising events to fund aid for wide array of people, services, and needs.
“They are all super important to me, big or small,” Azar-Myers says of his charity work.
Constantly looking for ways to give back, if he hears of a need in the community, he tries to find a way to fill it.
“If I see a family in need on Facebook or hear one of our customers is in need of help, I reach out to the family and see what we can do to help. I like to always respect the family and let them decide,” he adds.
But Azar-Myers’ goodwill hardly stops here.
When he adopted his rescue cat, Asher, from Antietam Humane Society in Waynesboro, he fell in love. And that love extended to wanting to help other animals find their forever homes. To help provide for their needs in the meantime, UV Bronze Tanning runs an annual pet supply drive accepting dog and cat food, litter, toys, crates, carriers, food dishes, blankets, and cleaning supplies at any of their locations during the Christmas season. “Asher’s Happy Pawliday’s Pet Supply Drive” named lovingly after Azar-Myer’s rescue cat has become an annual event.
Life influencing Azar-Myer’s giving seems to be a common theme in the ways he finds to give back. In 2012, Shane did his first competitor spray tan for a close friend who was in a bodybuilding and physique show. When other competitors saw his tan, they loved the color and results and asked Shane to do their sunless tans for their next competitions. From there, bodybuilding and physique competitions became part of his life.
“I am a director of an elite team of National Physique Committee male competitors called “Team UV Fit” that is sponsored through my salons. We offer personalized coaching and tanning to get athletes stage ready as well as provide them with all access tanning services–all 100 percent free–this is one way to help them save money while achieving their dream,” Azar-Myers says.
Today, Azar-Myers sponsors 36 male and three female competitors. Several have won first place in multiple shows and received their pro-cards allowing them to compete in iconic International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation events like the Arnold Classic.
Azar-Myers adds, “I’m honored to be able to be part of such a great organization and be part of the fitness world. The dedication these competitors put in daily is truly remarkable.”
What is also remarkable is the variety of ways that Azar-Myers finds to help those around him. Instead of limiting his charities to one specific need, he has opened his arms and embraced as much as he can. Azar-Myers may have opened a successful tanning business, which has continued to expand throughout the area, but more than that, he has opened a place that embraces life, the challenges it throws our way, and finds a way to lend a hand.
“I think it’s important to remember that the world is one big family, and we need to help each other. No one should ever have to fight alone,” he says.
With Azar-Myers, it doesn’t look like anyone will have to.