Philadelphia, PA, June 17, 2009 – Twenty-four ARAMARK employees were recently awarded Jefferson Awards, national honors given by the American Institute for Public Service, to American citizens devoted to community and public service. ARAMARK’s Gold Medal Winner, John Papazoglou, serves as Director of Nutrition at Baylor University Medical Center and was honored with 60 other recipients from around the country at a U.S. Senate reception on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2009.
“At ARAMARK, we strive to enrich the communities where we live and work and are committed to connecting our diverse expertise, resources, and time to help improve the lives of those in need,” said Joseph Neubauer, ARAMARK Chairman and CEO. “This program recognizes some of the most extraordinary ARAMARK volunteer efforts. We are proud of their achievements, and of the thousands of our employees who share this dedication.”
The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. The esteemed national award recipients represent a “Who’s Who” of outstanding Americans. On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are every-day people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. ARAMARK employees were recognized as part of the company’s Corporate Champions program, which was created in 2006 to encourage volunteering in the workplace.
Papazoglou was selected from an exemplary group of ARAMARK employee volunteers as the Gold Medal honoree. He has been a dedicated ARAMARK employee since 2001 and is being recognized for his commitment to the Dallas community where he has volunteered continuously for Central Dallas Ministries, a faith-based non-profit serving the working poor and homeless of Dallas through the county's largest food pantry. He created – and continues to lead – an ongoing program that provides and serves meals to approximately 225 homeless men, women and children each month at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas.
“Volunteer work is an important aspect of my life so it’s such a great feeling to, not only be a part of a company like ARAMARK that has a philanthropic focus embedded in its company culture, but to be recognized by it,” said Papazoglou. “I’m honored to receive an award that sheds light on the importance of giving our time and skills to those that need it most.”
Several other ARAMARK employees received Jefferson awards this year, including four Silver Medal winners: Mark Wallace at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ.; Jolene Grass from ARAMARK Uniform Services in Madison, WI.; Sarahanne Wright with ARAMARK Higher Education at the University of Toledo, Ypsilanti in Michigan.; and Debbie Malaczewski in the Sports & Entertainment Division of ARAMARK in Philadelphia, PA.
ARAMARK has a deep commitment to the communities it serves and launched a company-wide initiative in 2008 to strengthen community centers across the country and to encourage employees to make a difference. Through ARAMARK Building Community employees like John Papazoglou are getting involved with their local community centers – participating in refurbishment, educating families about how to live a healthier lifestyle, joining local boards of directors, and encouraging others across the company to participate – building lasting, sustaining local relationships.
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 2009 list of "World'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 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries.
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