Good Deeds

June 1, 2009 By: Nicole Palmieri American Spa

Tranquility Helps the Homeless

Tranquility Day Spa & Salon (Haymarket, VA) offered $10 haircuts to all first-time clients during the month of March with proceeds benefiting SERVE, a Manassas, VA–based organization that promotes independence for the homeless. "The downturn in the economy has brought higher unemployment rates to our local community, and with that, more families are struggling with homelessness than ever before," says Gloria Harding, co-owner of Tranquility Day Spa & Salon. "We appreciate the support from our clients and our staff that helped make this donation possible. It's inspiring to see the community come together in just a short 30 days to make such an awesome donation."

Gloria Harding (second from left) presents SERVE CEO Cheri Villa (second from right) a check for $4,400.

Repêchage Hosts Charity Dinner

Lydia Sarfati, president and founder of Repêchage, and Paul Smith, vice president of education for Emiliani Beauty Supply, hosted a National Cosmetology Association (NCA) Dining for Change dinner for spa and salon industry leaders. Dining for Change is a grassroots fundraising initiative based on the idea that small groups of individuals networking with other small groups can make a difference through a low-cost fundraising event. The NCA-sponsored charities to which proceeds from the event were donated include The Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund/Cut It Out, a program dedicated to fighting domestic abuse through building awareness; Look Good...Feel Better, a program that helps patients cope with the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment; and the NCA Disaster Relief Fund, which provides emergency cash assistance to spa and salon professionals impacted by national disasters.

Left to Right: NCA's Gordon Miller, Richard D'Amico, M.D., Repêchage's Lydia Sarfati, and Emiliani's Paul Smith

ATHENA COSMETICS SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

Athena Cosmetics, makers of RevitaLash eyelash conditioner, announced a donation of $10,000 to support breast cancer research projects, such as the Tumor Vaccine Group at the University of Washington. The cause is important to the company because RevitaLash creator Michael Brinkenhoff, M.D.'s wife, Gayle, is a breast cancer survivor. "Athena Cosmetics is committed to using a portion of our corporate profits to support breast cancer research and educational initiatives," says Brinkenhoff. "We are impressed with the University of Washington's Tumor Vaccine Group and its mission to conduct basic and clinical cancer research that leads to the development of effective immune-based cancer therapies. Their work with the multi-antigen breast cancer vaccine program is promising, and we are delighted to contribute toward its success."