Sodexo Receives the First Annual President's Award from Bread for the World and Alliance to End Hunger

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo, the world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions, was honored last night for its longstanding commitment to fighting hunger domestically and globally by Bread for the World and The Alliance to End Hunger. Sodexo president and CEO George Chavel accepted the award, which represents the company's outstanding achievements in alleviating hunger in the United States and around the world.

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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was also in attendance during the awards presentation and took the opportunity to share a personal anecdote that shaped his perspective on hunger. He went on to describe how many of us do not truly know what a day of real hunger is like, as opposed to the one in four children in the U.S. who experience it on a regular basis. His keynote address also highlighted the frequently overlooked impact of hunger on education performance, health care costs, economic viability and even national security.

"It's an honor to be named as the first corporate recipient of the Alliance to End Hunger and Bread for the World President's Award," said George Chavel, president and CEO, Sodexo North America. "It is a tribute to the service spirit of our employees and an honor that we share with the many clients, customers and vendor partners, who greatly contribute to our work to end hunger."

World Food Prize laureate and Bread for the World president, David Beckmann presented Sodexo with the first President's Award in recognition of the many initiatives that Sodexo leads, supports and embraces in its fight against hunger including:

• Sodexo Feeding Our Future® prepares nutritious meals for under-nourished children who would otherwise go hungry during the summer months.
• Sodexo Servathon sees thousands of employees join forces to raise money, donate food, and serve meals in their local communities.
• Sodexo Foundation Dinner is the annual fundraiser for the Foundation, and is supported by client and vendor partners.
• Sodexo STOP Hunger Scholarships recognize and reward students who have made a significant impact in the fight against hunger.
• Sodexo Helping Hands Across America an annual company-wide food drive for local food banks.
• Campus Kitchens Project encourages college students to volunteer, lead, develop, and serve in a setting that makes a difference in the fight against hunger.

To combat global hunger and malnutrition, Sodexo is working to establish its "STOP Hunger" initiative in 40 of the 80 countries it operates in by 2015, and in all the 80 countries by 2020. Currently, 39 countries actively participate in Sodexo STOP Hunger programs.

Sodexo's non-profit charitable arm, Sodexo Foundation, supports hunger-related initiatives on local, state, and national levels.  Sodexo, Inc. pays all administrative costs of the Foundation to ensure that all money raised is directed to those in need.

"Sodexo has done a remarkable job of making the fight against hunger part of its corporate culture.  Thousands of Sodexo employees around the world are giving their time, talent, and resources to help hungry people," said Ambassador Tony Hall, executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger.  "Sodexo understands that we all have a role to play in ending hunger.  If we are to truly make a difference in the lives of hungry people, we need more companies to follow Sodexo's example."

Currently, nearly one in four children in the U.S. lives in a household that has trouble putting food on the table. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called food stamps) has also hit record levels. About 40.5 million people a month -- more than one-eighth of the total U.S. population -- receives SNAP benefits.

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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 $13 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2009)

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.