NDEAM in action: Mind Body Botanicals branches out due to 2022 Voya Cares® and NDSS Entrepreneur Grant

By Jessica Tuman, VP, Voya Cares & ESG Practice COE

Last year, Voya Cares® and National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) provided Kevin Davis with a $10,000 entrepreneur grant to help grow Mind Body Botanicals, his small business with the overall goal of helping people with limited mobility to moisturize their skin.

Voya Cares and NDSS collaborated to create the Entrepreneur Grant in 2020 to raise awareness of the thriving community of entrepreneurs with Down syndrome, while helping support U.S. small businesses.

Mind Body Botanicals was selected the 2022 Entrepreneur Grant recipient because of the creativity of its business plan, goals for the future of the business, and the impact it is making in the community. We caught up with Kevin and his mother, Laura, after almost a year to see how the grant has helped them expand Mind Body Botanicals.

1. How have you used the 2022 Voya Cares® and NDSS Entrepreneur Grant to expand Mind Body Botanicals?

We are so thankful for the generous 2022 NDSS and Voya Cares Entrepreneur Grant and the many opportunities that it provided. We were able to “pay it forward.” Mind Body Botanicals donated products to organizations to help with their fund-raising efforts, such as NDSS, Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue, Molly Ann Tango Foundation, KIND of the Upstate, Saratoga Hospital Foundation, Ridgefield Academy, Wappinger’s Crew Club (Breast Cancer Fundraiser) and Danbury Grassroots Academy. We also gifted over 200 products to the homebound in our community at holiday time. The grant allowed us the opportunity to research new marketing strategies and expand our product line by introducing the Gardener's Secret Hand Scrub.

2. Why is it important for you to give back to the community?

It is important to give to the community because our community supports us. We would not be in business if it weren’t for the kind people who purchase and share our products with others. Nature's Temptations, a local store, carries our products along with Adam Broderick, a spa in town. The local PTO organizations have purchased gifts for their staff members during staff appreciation days. We are very grateful for everyone's support.

3. Have you expanded Kevin’s role in the family business?

Kevin is very social and thrives with sales. He loves talking to people about the products at events and also with people he meets. Kevin is gaining more and more responsibilities. He will write thank-you letters to our online customers. Kevin will put labels on products, weigh products, take inventory, stock the items, mail merchandise and help out wherever possible. He enjoys being the spokesperson. Social media is one of his favorite things to do. He is very good at posting.

4. What are your and Kevin’s plans for the future?

Our plans for Mind Body Botanicals are to keep improving and offer a variety of new essential oil fragrances to our product line.

5. What are your future plans and dreams for Mind Body Botanicals?

Our dream for Mind Body Botanicals would be to partner with someone who would complement our product and have a vision to employ people with different abilities. We love our product but have limited resources in getting out the information on how this product is so beneficial to everyone. We were participants in our town's version of “Shark Tank.” Many of the judges recommended we look into a partnership in order to expand. We think it is a great idea, and we are pursuing it. We have sent out letters and hoping for a positive response.

6. What do you need to help make that happen?

To make our dream happen for Mind Body Botanicals, we would need contacts to help us expand with a partner. We have our dream list of people, but we are never sure if they even receive the product samples or get to read our letters. We will continue to try and grow our family business. We are grateful and very happy with how far it has come. It has been possible to grow as a business because of the NDSS and Voya Cares Entrepreneur Grant, and we appreciate it. Thank you very much.

The ongoing grant program is dedicated to creating meaningful change in the career paths of people with Down syndrome across the country by helping to encourage meaningful employment and to help demonstrate the immense value, skills and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome.