The Sodexo Foundation Names Angel L. Gonzalez a Hero of Everyday Life for His Commitment to Fight Hunger
Camden resident and Campbell's Soup housekeeper devoted to feeding and uplifting the community's homeless
GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A stunning fifty-five percent of Camden N.J. residents live in poverty, with many at risk of hunger. Angel L. Gonzalez wants to change that. He devotes approximately 15 hours each week to preparing and serving food to homeless men and woman in his community. It's a commitment that has earned him recognition by the Sodexo Foundation as a 2011 Hero of Everyday Life. Gonzalez will be honored by the anti-hunger charitable arm of Sodexo, Inc., at the foundation's annual fundraising dinner on June 9 in Washington, D.C., where he will also receive a $5,000 grant for the hunger-related charity of his choice, My Brother's Keeper/Save Our Youth.
Gonzalez helped provide more than 60,000 meals to community residents at My Brother's Keeper/Save Our Youth (MBK/SOY), an organization that has assisted more than 15,000 men and women escape addiction and homelessness, and return to society as productive law-abiding citizens. He got involved with MBK/SOY through his church four years ago. As a dedicated volunteer, Gonzalez helps with all of the meal services including preparing and serving food, cleaning up after meals, and occasionally delivering meals to homeless in the community.
Thanks to Gonzalez, MBK/SOY meal service programs have evolved and become more nutritionally-balanced. He recently graduated from the Cathedral Kitchen program and took his culinary arts training to the organization, where he provides direction to the kitchen staff and uses his skills to help others in need.
"Angel Gonzalez is a great example of how each of us should take hunger personally, providing real solutions to people in the communities around us," said Robert A. Stern, president, the Sodexo Foundation. "It is especially important where childhood hunger is concerned given the life-long impact that a reliable source of food can make in a child's health and academic performance."
One in four people in a soup kitchen line is a child, and more than one in three households served by food pantries includes children. In 1999 the Sodexo Foundation was created to advance Sodexo's commitment to fight hunger. In January 2011 it announced a renewed commitment to ensure that every child in the United States, especially those most at-risk, grows up with dependable access to enough nutritious food to enable them to lead a healthy, productive life.
Gonzalez is one of eight Heroes of Everyday Life recognized by the Sodexo Foundation. The other heroes include: Charmion Wood, Gaithersburg, Md.; Frances M. Williams, Philadelphia, Pa.; Julia Pipkins, Carrollton, Texas; Kerwin M. Higashi, Redmond, Wash.; Lucas Minor, Bellingham, Wash.; Patty Johnson, Willowbrook, Ill.; Ryan Wilson, Allison Park, Pa.
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 $15 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 acts as the strategic 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 380,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On Site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. 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.
Key Figures (as of August 31, 2010) |
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Sodexo in the World |
Sodexo in North America |
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15.3 billion euro consolidated revenue 380,000 employees 34,000 sites 50 million consumers served daily 80 countries 21st largest employer worldwide |
8.0 billion dollars revenue 120,000 employees 10 million consumers served daily 6,000 clients 700 facilities management sites |
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SOURCE Sodexo Foundation
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