A Pakenham company which helps children and adults through both their services and fundraising has won a major award. Businessman Andrew Davey and his team at the therapy clinic Salts of the Earth was awarded the 2016 Franchise Council of Australia Franchisee Community Responsibility and Contribution award in the Victoria/Tasmania division.
The award recognises a franchisee’s hard work in bettering the community through responsible business ownership.
Salts of the Earth was chosen for the award due to the fundraising the staff conducts for groups such as children’s charities and causes and the local CFA.
“The award is an honour because it’s about giving back to the community and we wanted to do exactly that where we could,” Mr Davey said.
“It’s great recognition for everyone in my team.”
The salt therapy clinic has raised money for a wide variety of local and larger community groups and charities though its fundraising campaigns and work.
“Instead of doing one big fundraising focus, we have done little things where we can and spread the money across different groups to help as much as possible,” Mr Davey said.
“We have raised money for CFA brigades, cystic fibrosis Victoria and koala kids which donates toys to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre at the children’s hospital.
“One of our clients has cystic fibrosis so we held mediation sessions to raise money for a special vest that helps him and we’ve done a lot of donations to schools and community groups and sporting groups.”
Mr Davey opened the salt therapy clinic in March 2014 and since then the client base has grown to include more than 500 customers a week.
However, he said it is not the volume of customers that walk through the door that makes his day but the effect the salt therapy has had on people.
“Every day we see the difference the salt therapy makes, and it makes it all worthwhile,” he said.
Mr Davey and his team are now finalists in the national category for the Community Responsibility Award and will fly to Canberra later in the year for that presentation.
“I think we are all proud of what we have achieved in such a short time,” he said.
“It’s recognition of what we want our business to be about and that’s the most important thing.
“We know we have made a difference with the salt therapy and in other ways as well.”
By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
