Sodexo Launches Scholarship Fund Through Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo, Inc., leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company, announced a $100,000 gift today to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to establish a new scholarship fund for children of U.S. Marines and Navy Corpsmen looking to attend college and embark on a career path in the hospitality or business sectors.

The Sodexo, Inc. Scholarship Fund will award five, $5,000 need-based scholarships to dependents of Marines each year, totaling $100,000 in scholarships over the next four years. Students studying hospitality services and business administration will receive preference for the scholarships, though the program is open to any dependent of a current Active Duty, Reserve, or Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Corpsmen.

"Our company is deeply committed to supporting military families, and we are committed to hiring those who have served," said David Scanlan, president, Sodexo Government. "This scholarship program is a natural progression in Sodexo's commitment to improve the quality of daily life for our military and their families."

"As the Scholarship Foundation celebrates 50 years of honoring Marines by educating their children, we are truly fortunate to receive this multi-year commitment from Sodexo that ensures present and future generations of Marines sons and daughters are able to achieve access to institutions for higher education. By honoring the service and sacrifices of our Marines, Sodexo's investment helps secure the economic viability of our great nation," said Margaret B. Davis, president and chief operating officer of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

Scholarship applications are currently available at www.mcsf.org until March 1. 

"We are extremely honored to partner with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to support the dependents of our veterans through scholarship and internship opportunities," added Scanlan. "Along with supporting and hiring our veterans, it's just another way we can make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country."

Sodexo, the official foodservice provider of the U.S. Marine Corps, also supports important programs like the Marine Corps Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon Healthy Kids Fun Run and Healthy School Award program, and the Marine Corps Community Service Youth Sports Association.

ABOUT THE MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION:
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to U.S. military families. Since 1962, the Foundation has provided more than 27,000 scholarships valued at over $67,000,000 to Marine Corps sons and daughters whose parents have been killed or wounded in combat or have demonstrated financial need. The Foundation is proud to have been named by Independent Charities of America as 'Best in America' for demonstrating "the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness." For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation please visit www.mcsf.org.

ABOUT SODEXO

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $17 million in grants to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as a partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 413,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of Quality of Life Services. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.