THE WINNERS of this year’s Oxfordshire Local Business Charity Awards have now been announced.
The awards recognise businesses and individuals that go an extra mile to help charitable organisations do their job and are sponsored sponsored by insurance brokers A-Plan and Jelf with the Oxford Mail’s media partnership.
Keeley Dennyschene of the Hilton Garden Inn in Abingdon won the Individual Award for her longstanding work in support of the Helen and Douglas House hospice for children.
READ MORE: Abingdon Hilton manager nominated in Local Business Charity Awards
Amongst many other things, she has secured 100 nights of free accommodation for parents to stay near their terminally ill children in the hospice and painted mums’ nails in a Pamper Party put on by the hospice.
Judge in the awards and Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Brian Buchan, said: “Congratulations to all who reached the finals.
“I think I speak for my fellow judges when I say that you gave us a very difficult job choosing a winner, but one that we were honoured to perform.”
The 2019 Oxfordshire Jelf Award was received by STL Communications, a Witney-based company nominated by Special Effect charity, which helps people with disabilities join the digital world by developing unique control devices.
READ MORE: Witney company raised £800,000 for computer game charity
STL Communications and it’s managing director Brendon Cross created the Twin Town Car Challenge, which has raised over £800,000 for Special Effect.
Mike Owen, Managing Director at Jelf, said: “We are lucky to have such altruistic companies in our midst and we applaud them for their contributions to such a worthwhile cause.
“We hope the prize of £1,000 will go a little way to helping the charity continue its good work and wish them great luck for the future.”
The 2019 Oxfordshire A-Plan Award went to Midcounties Co-operative and recognised the co-op’s support for Banburyshire Advice Centre, a charity which helps the poor, elderly and disabled fight for their rights.
READ MORE: Banbury advice centre puts Midcounties Co-op up for charity award
Alison Atmore of A-Plan said: “It was great to see the Midcounties Cooperative back in the list of finalists again this year and of course to announce them as winners too.
“They consistently support many local charities for which we thank them.
“Banburyshire Citizens Project is a small charity doing important work and we’re delighted to present them with a prize of £1,000 to help with their work.”
The finals were held at Thomley, a Buckinghamshire charity which enhances the well-being of disabled people through delivering activities that helps develop the skills they need to run their day-to-day lives.
Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Brian Buchan added: “Another superb awards evening, generously supported by Jelf and A-Plan.
“Thanks must also go to the Oxford Mail who, having been winners last year, put the full weight of their media shoulder behind the awards, giving them huge coverage in the Oxford Mail and across numerous websites, telling the stories of the charities doing great work in our county and the wonderful companies supporting them.
It is this kind of cooperation that will help the awards grow each year, which we surely hope they do.”
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