Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing
Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing has been recognised as an ABA100® Winner for Community Contribution in The Australian Business Awards 2016. The Australian Business Award for Community Contribution recognises organisations for initiatives that positively impact on the community and generate outcomes that have a long term benefit.
“Food insecurity is a critical and growing issue for many Australians, with thousands of families living hand-to-mouth or not knowing where their next meal will come from.
“At Sanitarium, we not only believe in the potential of every Australian to be happy and healthy, we have the will to help. Caring for the community is in our DNA and for 118 years we’ve been committed to making food that is above all else, healthy, affordable and accessible. If our work with breakfast clubs can help thousands of Australians have a better start to their day, then we’re on the right track.
“We are truly humbled to be recognised for our efforts in helping fight food and nutrition insecurity in Australia.”
The Sanitarium Food Company has been in operation for over 117 years as a fast moving consumer goods company specialising in the manufacturing of food and beverage products. The company was founded by people who were empowered and inspired by good health and good living, and today view their purpose as making a positive difference to the world.
In 2001, Sanitarium was contacted by Australian Red Cross (ARC) to provide product support for school breakfast clubs in the Hunter Region, near the company’s two largest manufacturing sites. Confronted by the issue that primary school aged children often went to school without breakfast, the company decided to become part of the solution.
In 2003, after the program trial year, Australian Red Cross formally approached Sanitarium to become the program partner for the Breakfast Club program for an initial four-year commitment. This partnership enabled Australian Red Cross to expand the NSW program to an ongoing National program newly named the Good Start Breakfast Club (GSBC). Sanitarium’s initial contribution to the four-year partnership was $1 million in finance and in-kind support.
From there, the Breakfast Club developed into two specific programs: “Let’s Do it”, a five module interactive workshop that addresses healthy eating, exercise, culture and gender in a fun and creative environment; and “School Gardens”, an edible garden program that aims to teach children about the importance of food and nutrition.
Over the last 14 years, Sanitarium has continued to significantly support the Australian Red Cross Good Start Breakfast Club with financial and product support, as well as funding joint media campaigns to raise awareness of not only the program but the very real issue of food insecurity within Australia.
The Sanitarium Food Company have demonstrated a contribution to their community over the last 15 years through the funding and joint operation of the Breakfast Club and related projects.