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One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. In 2024 alone, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
Throughout the month of October, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, national efforts focus on promoting screening and prevention of this disease.
At Aramark, the EMPOWER employee resource group (ERG)--which is dedicated to fostering leadership and development opportunities by connecting and engaging women--organized volunteer activities to support those battling the disease.
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Avendra International members celebrating Tech Day of Pink
Volunteer Mobilization
This October, EMPOWER hubs in Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Maryland assembled HOPE kits for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
The HOPE kits were filled with items designed to provide comfort and encouragement to patients undergoing breast cancer treatment.
“This activity was unique since it brought together four of our regional EMPOWER hub locations in service,” said Lauren Harrington, Aramark’s senior vice president and general counsel and executive sponsor of EMPOWER. “I was proud to join fellow EMPOWER members in such a meaningful activity supporting newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.”
The kits are designed to support patients, while the heartfelt messages via virtual cards offer encouragement and connection. Assembled kits were carefully packaged and sent directly to the homes of individual patients.
In addition, in Maryland at Aramark’s supply chain organization, Avendra International, they also participated in the Tech Day of Pink 2024 to help raise awareness to the cause.
These collective efforts showcase the compassion and community spirit of Aramark’s team, demonstrating their commitment to making a difference together.
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Aramark Employee Celebrating a Decade of Triumph
Erika Johnson, Human Resource Manager of Aramark Facilities, is celebrating a decade of being breast cancer free. As a mother of two sons and a new grandmother, Johnson has a deeply personal connection to breast cancer, having lost her mother to the disease at a young age. Years later, Johnson herself was diagnosed with the disease.
Reflecting on her journey, Johnson shared, “The HOPE Kits are so thoughtful because they include little things that someone may not think about when going through chemo like clean makeup, fuzzy socks, and eyelashes.”
During her chemotherapy, a former colleague told Erika, “You don’t know how strong you are until strong is the only thing possible.” This saying now hangs on her door, serving as a daily reminder of her perseverance and strength.
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