Fastway supports the Heads Up For Kids campaign which is run by Lions Clubs around the country.

It also supports Cure Kids, providing free freight for both organisations and sponsors a parent's day through Purple Heart for the Camp Quality charity.

"It's brilliant to get this award," said CEO, Scott Jenyns. "I'm super pleased. And what our regional franchises do at a local level reinforces Fastway's commitment to communities."

The Franchise of the Year judges said Fastway had learnt over the years the value of both its employees and customers, and how they all come together to make a community. "They have shown an ongoing commitment where they can both use national and regional initiatives, to help others less fortunate or in great need," said the judges.

The company's involvement with Heads Up for Kids brings together courier and regional franchisees to collect and deliver old decimal and pre-decimal New Zealand and foreign currency to the Lions Club to assist in the funding of education programmes and scholarships for New Zealand youth.

Over the last five years Fastway has helped collect over eight million coins, weighing 20 tonnes, which has raised more than $500,000 to fund education programmes and scholarships for more than 150 Kiwi kids around the country.

Fastway also delivers all the material, including the distinctive red noses, for the annual Cure Kids campaign.

Camp Quality provides holidays away from home for children with terminal or serious illnesses. Fastway's sponsorship of the Purple Heart campaign provides a day when the children's parents can meet the Camp Quality staff they are entrusting their children to.

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