ARAMARK Launches New Program to Strengthen Nation’s Community Centers
“ARAMARK Building Community” Will Provide Lasting Assistance Through Employee Volunteerism and Philanthropy
PHILADELPHIA - (May 12, 2008) - ARAMARK, a global leader in professional services, will dedicate more than $5 million in cash grants, volunteer hours and product donations toward improving neighborhood centers as part of a new philanthropic and employee volunteerism initiative.
Over the next several years, ”ARAMARK Building Community” plans to assist neighborhood community centers in nearly 30 cities by holding volunteer days to enhance the physical environment of each center through landscaping, painting, and refurbishing playgrounds. In addition, volunteers will provide expertise and resources related to nutrition and wellness, workforce readiness and basic services, such as food and clothing drives and nutritional education as well as offering job skills and interview training.
“A commitment to communities is ingrained in the service culture of our company,” said Joseph Neubauer, ARAMARK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ”We help our clients realize their core business objectives each and every day. Through ‘ARAMARK Building Community,’ we will help neighborhood centers realize their mission of assisting those communities where our employees also live and work.”
The “ARAMARK Building Community National Tour” began April 30, 2008 in Philadelphia. Every month for the next two years ARAMARK intends to announce additional relationships with community centers in 30 different cities as part of this ongoing initiative focused on local, long-term partnerships.
In addition to Philadelphia, other locations include Chicago (May 15), New York City (June 25), Los Angeles (July 17), and Detroit (August 21). Thousands of ARAMARK employees are expected to participate.
To mobilize volunteers across the country, ARAMARK is working with City Year’s Care Force® division, one of the world’s leading organizations in engaging citizens in service to their communities. Working with City Year will ensure meaningful experiences for the ARAMARK employee volunteers while addressing pressing community center needs.
The foundation for “ARAMARK Building Community” began with a partnership with Neighborhood Centers Inc. (NCI) in Houston. Since early 2007, ARAMARK employees have led career fairs and hired new employees, hosted health and wellness fairs, introduced nutrition education to school students, and revitalized the environment at NCI’s Harbach-Ripley Neighborhood Center.
Over the next few years, ARAMARK will use the framework built with NCI to forge meaningful relationships with other community centers to enrich the lives of individuals and families across the country. More information about “ARAMARK Building Community” can be found in Community Involvement.
About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2008 list of "America's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 250,000 employees serving clients in 19 countries.
ARAMARK Corporation
Nicole Blatcher
215-238-8241
blatcher-nicole@aramark.com
Doug Warner
215-238-3316
warner-doug@aramark.com