Reference
OpenAI's Answer
Mary Babnik Brown refused compensation for her hair donation because she believed it was her patriotic duty to support the war effort during World War II. She considered her contribution a service to her country and preferred not to accept any payment for it. President Ronald Reagan even acknowledged her contribution by writing a letter to her on her 80th birthday.
For more detailed information, you can refer to her Wikipedia page.
Here is an image of Mary Babnik Brown in 1943:
Follow Up
Related
How did President Ronald Reagan contribute to the myth regarding Mary Babnik Brown?
What made Mary Babnik Brown's hair particularly valuable to the military?
What was the myth about Mary Babnik Brown’s hair used in World War II?
What event aired on NBC’s The Story Behind the Story involving Mary Babnik Brown?