Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/770367
43 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 JANUARY 2017 Frank Salt Real Estate ends another successful year with a stylish Christmas lunch "This has been a great year for Frank Salt Real Estate and we are looking forward to break new records, next year." So said Frank Salt Real Estate group's chairman, Frank Salt, during the annual Christmas staff lunch, this year held at the beautiful Magazino, located on the Val- letta Waterfront. The venue was set up with elegant tables complementing the vaulted ceil- ings of this historical building. Island Caterers served a lovely four-course lunch, including a carvery station which suited the occasion and proved to be a great success. The festive season is always a highlight in Frank Salt Real Estate's calendar, as the annual Christmas staff lunch is one of the most memorable events of the year. This occasion is the perfect opportunity for consult- ants across branches to get to- gether, share a few good laughs with their colleagues in a relaxed environment and also get com- petitive with the annual Christ- mas Challenge, which is differ- ent each year. Salt and his sons, directors Douglas and Grahame, each shared a few words and as is the tradition, these were followed by the much awaited awards cer- emony presented by the COO Darren DeDomenico. These prestigious awards were handed out to the top letting and sales consultants, including big- gest sale and highest turnover on letting, recognising differ- ent consultants for their success throughout the year. New top- performing recruits who joined the company this year were also rewarded for their outstanding achievements. The awards were followed by the Christmas challenge, which this year consisted of each branch filming their own man- nequin challenge. This was an- other highlight as competing videos were played in between courses with a vote taken at the end of the lunch. The Fgura and Cospicua branches teamed up to put together a very original and humorous video and were voted top of the game, taking home the prestigious trophy from last year's winners. "We had a fantastic time and a warm, packed venue. Our team is comprised of over 150 em- ployees and as we're constantly growing, we are constantly working to maintain consistency and a healthy rapport across the organisation. We are really one big family," Darren De Domeni- co remarked. The company's di- rectors and staff are looking for- ward to 2017, which is promising to be another successful year with the opening of new branch- es around the Maltese islands. Thomas Smith Group raises €5,000 in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Thomas Smith Group presented the €5,000 in funds raised in 2016 despite the cancellation of the an- nual Christmas charity swim sched- uled on Sunday,18 December. The swim was cancelled due to weather conditions that would have made it hazardous to swimmers. Managing director Joe Gerada, together with Liana Cachia, group marketing & HR manager, presented the funds to President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, on 22 December at San An- ton Palace. During the cheque presentation, President Coleiro Preca thanked Thomas Smith Group for their ef- forts and dedication in organis- ing the charity swim annually, and commended the company for con- tributing towards the final amount of the €5,000 donated. The amount was reached through public dona- tions and topped up by Thomas Smith Group, and also through the Thomas Smith Staff Solidar- ity Fund, who collected donations throughout 2016 via dress down Fri- days initiatives. Ever since its inception, the Group, together with the swimmers' do- nations have collected just over €102,000. "Cancelling the swim has been of great disappointment to the compa- ny and the members of the organis- ing team, as well as to keen support- ers who were eagerly awaiting the activity. Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favour this year and rescheduling proved difficult. We look forward to the 19th edition to be held in 2017, on Sunday, 17 De- cember," Gerada said. "The Thomas Smith charity swim is now an an- nual appointment on the calendar of events of the Office of the Presi- dent, and following this year's posi- tive response, it continues to attract an ever-growing number of par- ticipants, expressing their solidarity and altruism." The company would like to extend its appreciation to all who support- ed the event, including participants who have once again shown great enthusiasm. Regular supporters in- cluded the Sliema local council, Civ- il Protection Department, the Malta Police Force, Malta Red Cross, St John's Rescue Corps, Għaqda Dilet- tanti Sajd Sliema, Drinks n' More, Vertex Vending Services Ltd., X- Zone, Island Beverages, Fresco's Café & Restaurant, Cara's Cafeteria, J. Bonnici & Sons, Clyde Dolceria, Content Factory, WAVA, Karl Borg Events, SignIt, LovinMalta, Eve. com.mt, as well as others. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFTON FENECH Vassallo Group employees dress down for charity Over €6,000 were collected by Vassallo Group employees through various activities organ- ised in aid of Pink October and the Breast Cancer Foundation. In- itiatives included a dress down day across the Group, a hot dog day by Vassallo Builders and Caremalta Head Office staff, and the selling of Breast Cancer awareness pins by employees who work at Rose- ville, one of Caremalta's homes. Money collected was presented to Michelle Muscat, the Prime Minister's wife who is also the chairperson of the Marigold Foundation, by Natalie Briffa Far- rugia CEO of Caremalta and a director at Vassallo Group. The presentation was held at Casa Apap Bologna in Mosta, the new respite home for persons with dis- ability run by HILA, one of the newest companies within the Vas- sallo Group. Briffa Farrugia spoke about the group's efforts to raise awareness amongst its workforce on the need to take the necessary meas- ures to prevent cancer and live a healthy lifestyle in general. This topic was in fact included in the first Healthy Lifestyles Week, or- ganised across the group late last year. She explained that apart from this, the group supports em- ployees who go through a rough time due to illness. This is done through the Arkati Foundation, an internal charity within the Group. However, "the Group also assists other initiatives, as was the case with the Pink October initiative, as part of its corporate responsibility," Briffa Farrugia concluded. @ maltatoday We are on Instagram Michelle Muscat, the Prime Minister's wife (second from right) at the presentation President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca receiving the cheque from Joe Gerada