by Robin Beaudoin
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 alarming- people 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.
Photo by Danny E Hooks (Shutterstock image)
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.
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