Relief Efforts
Éminence is one of the many ISPA members who actively do humanitarian work, especially in communities devastated by natural or man-made disasters.“ Giving back to our community, and the world around us at large, is part of our company philosophy,” says Éminence Organic Skin Care Director of Marketing Stephanie Baresh.“ We work in a caring industry and it’ s an honor to be able to rally our partner spas, estheticians, sales reps, consumers to support our efforts and start their own.”
Éminence’ s disaster relief work, she stresses, is an ongoing initiative through direct donations, product support and other efforts. This year alone, the skin-care company has supported relief efforts for victims of Japan tsunami and Texas wildfire which displaced hundreds of families.
In 2010, Red Cross recognized the company for generating donations for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. That same year, Éminence ran a promotion wherein a dollar from each purchase of any of their oil-control and acne fighting products— Tomato and Garlic Masque, Tomato Lycopene Masque and Tomato Oil Control Gel— was donated to the World Wildlife Federation to help raise awareness and cleanup the Gulf.
“ We also supported our partner spas whose businesses were affected during that time by providing them products so they could continue to give services to their community,” Baresh says.
One program that Éminence is passionately involved in is its partnership with San Antonio Massage & Spa, an Éminence partner spa, which treats wounded soldiers.“ In 2008, we began providing our stone crop products for burn victims in conjunction with therapeutic massage. Our support for this program continues and we are inspired by the heroism of Jann Henry, the spa owner, who dedicates her own time to help these soldiers every single week.”
Community-focused Assistance
Sometimes, disaster strikes too close to home. This was clearly the case for Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa— located in Lost Pines, Texas— when its neighboring town, Bastrop, was struck by a crippling wildfire that, sadly, gutted nearly 1,600 homes and 41,000 acres of land.
“ Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa was very fortunate to escape any immediate damage from the wildfires that affected the Bastrop area. Unfortunately, not all of our associates were so
Eminence President Boldijarre Koronczay and the rest of his team receive a plaque of recognition for their partnership with San Antonio Massage & Spa to treat wounded soldiers.
lucky. Twenty-two lost their homes and everything they own, and more had direct relatives who lost their homes or sustained significant damage. In total, 1,554 homes were lost in the intensity of the fires and our community is continuing in the recovery process,” says Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa Public Relations Coordinator Jill Williams.
It Takes a Team
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines quickly mobilized its team to assist associates and others in the community.“ Associates and their families affected by the fire were invited to stay at the resort free of charge, and staff stepped in to take on additional shifts so their friends could focus on the bigger issues at hand,” Williams says.“ We also housed 128 members of various National Forest Service Task Forces, who were responding to the fires from across the country. Accommodations were arranged for displaced residents for a low rate to help them take stock of the situation and determine their next steps.”
While Hyatt Regency Lost Pines’ staff was mobilized, the rest of the Hyatt properties were pulling together to help associates in need.“ Before we knew it, donations [ poured in ] from associates from nearby Texas properties, and literally from across the country,” Williams recalls, adding that trucks were arriving on a daily basis from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Omaha, and Tampa with shipments from many other cities.“ It was heartwarming to see the outpouring of support, and it is so appreciated by those who had lost everything,” she says.
Today, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa continues to provide assistance to victims of the wildfire through its“ WeCare” offer wherein $ 25 is donated from each booked night at the Hyatt Daily Rate to the Bastrop Ministerial Alliance for direct fire relief.
Continuing the Work
With disaster’ s ability to create communities, businesses like Éminence plans to forge on in providing aid to victims of catastrophies.“ We have found that our philanthropic work inspires infectious enthusiasm across our business,” Baresh says.
In fact, she claims the company often receives positive feedback from consumers about how they feel good about buying products that are not only organic and sustainable, but also actively gives back to the community and the environment as well as support humanitarian causes. ■
December 2011 ■ PULSE 45