A member of the team at Amazon’s delivery station in Swindon has made a £2,000 donation to a school in Wiltshire after her daughter was named the winner of a competition to design a festive postcard.
Priyadharshanee Weligama Arachchige, who works as a parcel sorter at Amazon in Swindon, entered her 17-year-old daughter Melani’s winning design into a competition run across Amazon’s UK sites. The competition is part of a longstanding partnership with the charity Magic Breakfast.
For coming first place in the age category 12-17, Priyadharshanee and Melani could select the recipient of a £2,000 donation and they opted for The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College in Wiltshire where Melani is a student.
Magic Breakfast, an Amazon UK charity partner since 2016, provides healthy breakfasts to children in disadvantaged areas of the UK to combat food poverty.
When schools shut earlier this year due to COVID-19, Amazon worked with Magic Breakfast to deliver food parcels directly to the doorsteps of thousands of children around the UK. Amazon has now delivered two million meals to vulnerable children across the UK this year.
The festive card competition challenged Amazon team members and their families to design a festive-themed postcard. Entries were judged on inclusion of festive elements, positive messages, creativity, inclusivity and appropriateness for all audiences. Priyadharshanee and Melani’s winning design features Santa checking off his list.
Priyadharshanee said: “I absolutely love the festive season and I can’t believe Melani’s card has won the competition! It’s great to make the donation to The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College – it’s a brilliant school that provides such a good education for young people in our community.”
James Povoas, Principal, The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College, said: “We want to say a big thank you to Priyadharshanee and Melani for choosing us as the recipient of their grand prize – it will help us continue to offer the best possible learning experiences for our pupils. We are incredibly grateful for this kindness.”
Francesca Marsden, Delivery Station Manager at Amazon in Swindon, added: “Everyone at Amazon in Swindon is proud of Melani and we all send our congratulations to her. We were so pleased to hear that the category winner was one of our own here at Amazon in Swindon and we are sure that the postcard will put a smile on many people’s faces this festive season. We are also pleased to support The Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College.”
The festive card competition is part of the “Amazon in the Community” programme, whereby the company supports the communities around its operating locations across the UK.
Community donations are one of a number of ways in which Amazon is supporting communities across the UK. Amazon is providing disadvantaged students with online STEM courses as well as teaming up with charity partner Magic Breakfast and delivering 2 million healthy breakfasts to families around the UK.
For more information on how Amazon is supporting the UK during COVID-19, click here.
