Aramark Mobilizes Across Philadelphia to Improve Health of Local Families
Aramark employees bring health and wellness education and awareness programs to Philadelphia as part of Aramark Building Community Day
PHILADELPHIA, September 20, 2016 /3BL Media/ - As part of Aramark’s ongoing commitment to health and wellness, more than 500 Aramark associates are uniting today across Philadelphia, Aramark’s global headquarters, including at Congreso De Latinos Unidos (Congreso), The Federation of Neighborhood Centers (FNC), and other sites, to inspire families to make healthy food, nutrition and lifestyle choices. This year, Aramark Building Community Day (ABC Day), the company’s global day of service, is supporting the company’s Healthy for Life® 20 by 20 commitment with the American Heart Association to improve the health of Americans by 20 percent by 2020.
“Aramark’s mission is to deliver experiences that enrich and nourish lives,” said Eric J. Foss, Aramark Chairman, President and CEO. “Philadelphia has been Aramark’s home for over half a century and we are committed to helping create a strong and thriving community. Today and throughout the year, thousands of our associates are helping to build healthy families and healthy communities here in Philadelphia and around the world.”
Aramark volunteers in Philadelphia will host a community fair with cooking demos, healthy food discovery experiences and tastings, create inspirational and educational murals, enhance a workforce training space, conduct workforce education training, and more. At FNC’s 8th and Poplar Farm, Aramark volunteers will be making improvements to the East Poplar Playground and Recreational Center, a 4.8-acre space FNC has shared with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation for the last 10 years. At Aramark’s headquarters, volunteers will be assembling healthy snack pack kits and inspirational cards to be delivered to Congreso clients and community residents, along with hand-painted health and wellness murals for FNC.
In addition to Philadelphia, thousands of Aramark associates around the world, including chefs, nutritionists and dietitians, are volunteering at community centers and nonprofit groups as one demonstration of the year-round dedication of Aramark employees to strengthening local communities.
Aramark’s longstanding partnerships with both Congreso and FNC have impacted thousands of adults, children and families. Aramark’s partnership with Congreso and FNC, along with other local community centers and nonprofits, is part of the company’s continued commitment to improving the health of Philadelphia residents.
This spring, both Congreso and FNC participated in Aramark and the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Life® community engagement program, which was established to change the attitudes and behaviors of primarily single mothers or single heads of households around food and health for their families.
“Aramark is a valued and longtime partner of Congreso and we are deeply grateful to Aramark’s employees for taking the time, as they do throughout the year, to share their expertise with our community,” said Dominique Bernardo, Interim CEO, Congreso. “Their commitment and dedication to the City of Philadelphia is truly incredible. Over the last five years, Congreso has helped more than 58,000 members through its mission to strengthen Latino communities. Aramark, as a health and workforce partner, has been critical to the successful outcomes we’ve been able to measure in that time. Today’s efforts are proof positive that together, Congreso and Aramark are focusing on the community’s most pressing needs.”
“For more than nine years, Aramark has been an integral partner for FNC, impacting nearly 35,000 of our members, including adults, children and families,” said Jerry Tapley, Executive Director, FNC. “We are greatly appreciative of Aramark’s support. The health and wellness programing is invaluable to help build strong neighborhoods and a thriving community in Philadelphia.”
Today’s effort is part of Aramark Building Community, the company’s year-round global volunteer and philanthropic program. Since 2008, Aramark has invested more than $9 million in expertise, financial and in-kind resources to empower youth and adults to lead healthier lifestyles and succeed in the workforce in partnership with community centers in 52 cities. More than 35,000 employees have dedicated their skills and expertise through hundreds of volunteer projects impacting millions of people.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people’s lives through innovative services in food, facilities management, and uniforms. United by a passion to serve, our 270,000 employees make a meaningful difference each day for millions of people in 21 countries around the world. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, rated number one among Diversified Outsourcing Companies, as well as among the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Congreso
Congreso is a multiservice, nonprofit organization founded in 1977 whose mission is to strengthen Latino communities through social, economic, education and health services; leadership development and advocacy. It served 17,750 unduplicated individuals in FY15. For more information, visit www.congreso.net or call 215-763-8870.
About The Federation of Neighborhood Centers
The Federation of Neighborhood Centers (FNC) is a voluntary network of community-based and community-focused partner institutions that provide programs and services to more than 20,000 children, youth, adults, and families across Philadelphia each year. Created in 1906 to help build stronger communities by strengthening families and civic life, it’s mission is achieved by creating intentional partnerships with community agencies to collectively provide culturally sensitive programs and services that are critical to the well-being of inner city children, youth, adults, seniors, and families. For 110 years, FNC has helped families find and maintain stable housing, learn English, be trained to enter competitive, family-sustaining careers, enhance children’s educational achievement, recognize and encourage young people to successfully complete high school and enter college, and work towards the creation of safer, healthier, and more nurturing neighborhoods. To learn more, visit FNC at www.fncphilly.org.
