This Idaho company won a $50,000 grant for its support of homeless families
An Idaho company that sells essential oil-infused skin care products received Amazon’s Force for Good award.
The Twin Falls-based wellness brand, Plant Therapy, was among just two other small businesses — Ezra Coffee Co. in Houston and Playtime Adventures in Charlotte, N.C. — that Amazon recognized for “giving back” their communities.
Plant Therapy, founded in 2011 by Chris Jones, received the award for its “Planting Kindness” initiative, according to a news release. The award comes with a $50,000 grant.
“What sets these sellers apart is their genuine passion for creating positive change,” Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of Worldwide Selling Partner Services, said in the release. “Their commitment to social responsibility shows how businesses can be a force for good.”
Jones said in the release that he runs his business with the idea that a positive impact on one person can create a cascade of positive impacts throughout a community — a butterfly effect, of sorts.
Plant Therapy says it donates to local organizations like Valley House Homeless Shelter, a nonprofit homeless shelter in Twin Falls; and Jae Foundation, which raises awareness for suicide prevention. The business has also donated to domestic violence shelters, veterans services, youth organizations and other projects abroad, such as the Africa Heartwood Project in Liberia.
Since its inception, Plant Therapy has given over $6 million to charity, including about $400,000 so far this year, according to the company’s website.
It also provides comprehensive benefits, donation-matching programs and paid community service hours to its roughly 80 employees.
“From day one, our mission has been to positively impact as many lives as possible, and to be recognized by Amazon is a meaningful reminder that the passion and hard work of our team is truly making a difference,” Jones said in the release.
Plant Therapy has two retail stores in Idaho, at The Village at Meridian and the Magic Valley Mall in Twin Falls. The business also sells its products globally through the Amazon online store.
