2017 Issue 2 Mar/Apr - Focus Mid-South Magazine

health+wellness
Local salon fundraising supports
International clean water causes
by Robin Beaudoin
Pavo Salon & Spa owners
Shawn McGhee (top) and
Scot Robinson’s corporate
interest in clean water
initiatives began after the
Deepwater Horizon (Gulf
of Mexico) oil rig spill of
2010, the largest marine
oil spill in history. Eleven
workers were killed and
more than 100 were injured
at the time of the explosion
that caused the spill. The
rig was located about 40
miles off the Louisiana
coast; approximately 1100
miles of coastal shoreline,
from Florida to Texas, were
contaminated with the oil
and thousands of marine
animals died as a result.
Two days after the initial
explosion, on Earth Day,
ironically, the rig sank.
A popular, upscale Memphis
salon offers a life-changing cut
and color, but the good they
do reaches well beyond their
salon and spa clients. With two
locations in midtown and East
Memphis, Pavo Salon & Spa
is an Aveda Lifestyle salon,
sharing a philanthropic focus
on clean water efforts and
the protection of indigenous
tribes. “We raise money for
clean water for your hair, skin,
and health, in partnership
with Tennessee Clean Water
Network, which protects all of
Tennessee’s major waterways.
They make huge efforts right
here in our own backyard
in the Mississippi [River],
“states Scot Robinson, part
owner with Shawn McGhee
since 1997. “It’s alarmingpeople
assume they have
clean water because we live
in the United States, but
that’s not necessarily true.”
A tremendous drop over the
last ten years of enforcement
of EPA water policies in
Tennessee makes clean water
initiatives not only helpful but
necessary.
Robinson reveals the outset
of the salon’s protective
efforts, “Aveda aims
globally to protect water for
indigenous tribes, and salons
will donate money on a local
level. When we originally
started, we worked with gulf
coast restoration, after the oil
spill. All our contribution was
going to that effort.
Tennessee Clean Water
came along four or five years
ago, and it seemed like a
perfect fit.” The brand’s
products and processes
are more environmentally
responsible than most,
using plant power instead of
petrochemicals.
Aveda Lifestyle Director
for Pavo’s salons, Meagan
Kitterlin, gushes over the
global initiative by Aveda.
“Part of being in the Aveda
Network of salons includes
participation in the Global
Earth Month Campaign for
Clean Water.” Since the
inception of Aveda’s
clean water campaign
in 1999, the Aveda
Network has raised over
fifty million dollars for
clean water. Pavo, as
Memphis’ largest Aveda
salon, is serious about
this commitment, and
has raised $40,000
in the last three years
to benefit the Gulf
Restoration Network,
Tennessee Clean
Water Network (the
current project), and
the Global Greengrants
Fund. Kitterlin echoes
Robinson’s gratitude for
the program, “We are
lucky to serve the Memphis
community, where we draw
a diverse and passionate
clientele who receive high
quality service in a relaxing
environment. Thanks to them,
and our dedicated staff, our
efforts covered the cost
of Tennessee Clean Water
Network’s entire operating
budget in 2014.” Pavo’s
contributions also earned the
Memphis area an additional
water bottle refill fountain,
accessible at the Greenline
entrance at Shelby Farms Park.
Additional info:
aveda.com/living-aveda
TCWN.org
pavosalon.com
Deep Water Horizon/Gulf of Mexico
oil spill is shown on a beach on June
12, 2010 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Photo by Danny E Hooks (Shutterstock
image)
Page 26 / focusmidsouth.com / MAR+APR 2017 / Homegrown