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Sanitarium Ambassador Award Winners Announced - Community & Church Work Takes Recipent to Top

Posted on Sept 01, 2010

Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing today announced the recipients of the 2010 Sanitarium Ambassador Awards, which go to a representative from each of the company's three branches nationally, with community and local church work putting some recipients on top.

This year three Branch Ambassador Awards and 16 'Living Our Philosophy' recipients were announced at a ceremony held at the company's factory in Royal Oak, Auckland. Gold medalist discus champion Beatrice Faumuina was on-site to present the awards.

Auckland factory Branch Ambassador Award winner David Strickland, a process operator, was one of only three staff to receive this prestigious award nationally. David, a dedicated member of the Ponsonby Seventh-day Adventist Church, is credited by fellow staff in nominations as being "genuinely caring", "respectful to others", "non-condemning" and "very active in worship". Now in his 11th year at Sanitarium, David has been known to purchase items from the staff shop for needy families, volunteer great amounts of time to assist at church events – and proving his true character – was nominated in every competition category by his peers.

Recipients in the 'Living Our Philosophy' sections were equally commendable in church and community work – Tomasi Buwana, a cooker operator from the Auckland factory, was a recipient in the 'Caring for our communities' category. Tomasi was credited for his humble, helpful and friendly attitude, and active work in church fundraising, with one staff nomination stating "more people like him in our communities would make it a better place to live!"

Brian Smith, the Assistant Manager for Route & Food Service, and recipient in the 'Valuing each other' category, was commended by peers for his tireless dedication and support for other people and causes, most actively in his church youth group and church band.

Held annually, the awards recognise and celebrate employees who demonstrate Sanitarium's principles in their work, their workplace and the community.

Each recipient was nominated by their co-workers for embodying an aspect of the spirit of Sanitarium's philosophy, which focuses on genuine care for health, hope and happiness of every person.

All nominees were then considered for the Branch Ambassador Awards, and a recipient from each branch was selected. Each Branch Ambassador receives a cash prize and $1,250 to donate to a charity of their choice. One Ambassador will be chosen next month as the recipient of the overall company award, the Sam Bearpark Award, which celebrates the life of a notable Sanitarium salesperson, who worked at Sanitarium in the 1930s – 1950s and was known for his dedication to Sanitarium and his clients.

"I am always delighted to see how committed and hardworking, supportive of each other, generous and community minded our staff are" said GM Pierre van Heerden. "This year's Ambassadors exemplify everything we hold dear at Sanitarium and are truly admired by the whole team".

Next year the three Ambassadors will join Australian counterparts in working on a community project in Australia. In October 2010 last year's winners will be assisting with the upgrade of Manurewa's Randwick Park Community House to include a community garden, pre-school area and cooking facilities – with Sanitarium providing free lessons in healthy and nutritious cooking.