Philadelphia, PA, June 23, 2010 – ARAMARK, a global provider of professional services, is proud to announce that 59 of its employees have been honored with Jefferson Awards for Public Service, one of the nation’s top honors for community service and volunteerism. The ARAMARK 2010 Jefferson Award Gold Medal winner is Krista Wennerstrom, RD, LDN, who serves as Food Service Director at THOREK Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The Awards are given by the American Institute for Public Service, which recognizes American citizens devoted to community and public service and hosted the U.S. Senate reception and banquet on Capitol Hill to recognize this year’s group of volunteers on June 22, 2010.
“Every day, ARAMARK people deliver outstanding service to customers and clients worldwide, and that culture of service extends to the communities in which we live and work,” said Joe Neubauer, ARAMARK Chairman and CEO. “I am very proud of all of the ARAMARK volunteers who work tirelessly to strengthen our communities and enrich the lives of those in need.”
Krista Wennerstrom, ARAMARK’s 2010 Gold Medal Winner, began volunteering at a young age with the Girls Scouts and her local YMCA. In 2002, she started the Windy City Women’s Charity Club (WCWCC), a monthly women’s volunteer group, with two friends. It has grown in size and supported over fifty organizations throughout the past eight years.
Wennerstrom has worked with ARAMARK Healthcare for 12 years and volunteers to lead and support the company’s health and wellness educational programs with Chicago’s Jane Addams Hull House Association (Hull House). She leads ARAMARK Building Community’s culinary and nutrition awareness efforts with four Hull House locations in inner-city Chicago to educate families on how to live healthier lifestyles and provide realistic tips on nutrition, wellness and food preparation.
“What started as a small volunteer event at a single Hull House location has turned into a great project that promotes team building among employees and showcases our company’s commitment to the community and health and wellness,” said Wennerstrom. “Every month I have a different volunteer experience, and seeing what a little of my time and energy can do to help others is extremely rewarding.”
On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are everyday people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. ARAMARK employees are recognized as part of the Jefferson Awards Corporate Champions program, which was created in 2006 to encourage civic engagement and volunteerism in the workplace.
Several other ARAMARK employees received Jefferson Awards this year, including three Silver Medal winners: Gail Chapin, food service director, Powder Springs, Ga.; Alex Hodges, information technology, Parkville, Mo.; Denise Whittaker, administrative coordinator, Philadelphia, Pa. ARAMARK’s 20 Bronze Medal winners are: Bettina Applewhite, registered dietitian, Owinga Mills, Md.; Merrie Bernstein, director of business development, Bridgewater, N.J.; Raymond Billington, food service director, Wellington, Colo.; Jon Carr, front line manager, Fenville, Mich.; Gene Castellito, general manager, St. Charles, Mo.; Chuck Cunningham, food service director, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Todd Everett, district manager, Orlando, Fla.; Shawn Genge, district manager, Edmonton, Alberta; Brian Giles, general manager, Houston, TX; Lauren Hunter, senior human resources manager, Philadelphia, Pa.; Meghan King, human resources manager, Mass.; Leonard Martinez, director of financial reporting, Granada Hills, Calif.; Frank Milton, food service director, Kyle TX; David Randolph, district manager, Dallas, TX; Tom Rourke, assistant location manager, Scottsville, Va.; Martin Samaniego, senior sous chef, Las Vegas, Nev.; Michele Smith, office manager, Portland, Ore.; Brian Tribble, sales, Lexington, Ky.; Mark Williamson, district manager, Seattle, Wash.; Ray Wincey, executive head chef, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
ARAMARK Building Community was launched in 2008 as a company-wide philanthropic and volunteer program to help community centers positively impact families and neighborhoods. The initiative fosters long-term support by providing workforce-related skills training to help educate and connect youth and adults to the workforce, educate families on how they can live healthier lifestyles through education and awareness and supports access to basic human needs. ARAMARK Building Community will reach more than 40 cities by the end of 2010 by leveraging the skills and expertise of its employee volunteers, like Krista Wennerstrom, to help neighborhood centers implement solutions for important social issues.
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. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, as the industry leader in FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. 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 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.
About the Jefferson Awards
Co-founded in 1973 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard, The Jefferson Awards annually celebrate America's commitment to public service. Recognizing both the famous and the unknown, individuals and organizations, the young and old, the awards reflect one of the founding ideals of our nation, that of contributing toward the larger good. As Thomas Jefferson himself wrote, "Private charities as well as contributions to public purposes in proportion to everyone's circumstances are certainly among the duties we owe to society." The Jefferson Award recipients are nominated from throughout the country and selected by the organization's board of directors.
Contacts:
Allison & Partners
Krystin Williamson
(619) 533-7974
krystin@allisonpr.com