National Restaurant Association Recognizes ARAMARK for Commitment to Community Service
Philadelphia-based professional services company receives prestigious Restaurant Neighbor Award for charitable efforts benefitting community centers across the United States and abroad
(3BL Media) Washington, DC - April 17, 2012 - The National Restaurant Association will today recognize ARAMARK as one of this year’s Restaurant Neighbor Award winners during a gala dinner at its 2012 Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. The award celebrates outstanding service efforts that restaurateurs perform in their respective communities.
ARAMARK was recognized as the Large Business Category winner for its global philanthropic and volunteer program ARAMARK Building Community that helps families in underserved neighborhoods across the United States and beyond by providing funds, volunteers, programs and professional services to strengthen community centers.
“We are proud to present the Restaurant Neighbor Award to some of the most inspiring examples of community service in our industry,” said Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association President and CEO. “We are committed to positively enhancing the quality of life for all we serve, and philanthropic activities are an important part of this mission. ARAMARK’s dedicated efforts in improving community centers across the nation have helped better the lives of countless families and the neighborhoods in which they live and work.”
“This recognition is a huge honor for our company and our 250,000 employees,” said Joseph Neubauer, ARAMARK Chairman and CEO. “ARAMARK Building Community exemplifies our passion for service, and for helping others to realize their potential. The unique talent and skills of the hospitality industry, and our collective commitment to service is creating positive and lasting impact in communities in the US and around the world.”
Since its launch in 2008, ARAMARK Building Community has contributed more than $7 million through grants, in-kind support and more than 15,000 employees volunteering their time. By joining forces with community centers on the national and local level, ARAMARK has helped to connect people to jobs, educate families about healthier lifestyles, upgrade facilities, and provide access to basic social services.
Viewing their work as an extension of their company’s culture, ARAMARK has hosted more than 60 large-scale volunteer days and hundreds of educational programs and events, which bring the skills of ARAMARK volunteers to enhance community centers. To date, the organization has helped more than fifty communities through local non profit partnerships in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, impacting more than 3 million individuals and families. For more information visit ARAMARK Building Community on Facebook.
The National Restaurant Association will present ARAMARK with the award, along with a charitable contribution to ARAMARK national partner United Neighborhood Centers of America, at a gala dinner during its 2012 Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. American Express is the founding partner of the Restaurant Neighbor Award. It was developed in 1999 in an effort to raise awareness of the industry’s contributions to local communities throughout the country and to inspire more owners and operators to get involved and contribute to their respective communities.
“American Express is proud to partner with the National Restaurant Association to honor the contributions restaurateurs across the country make to their communities,” said Curtis L. Wilson, Vice President and General Manager, Restaurant, Lodging & Insurance Industries, American Express. “Through charitable gifts of food, time, and resources, restaurants have a tangible and lasting impact on their communities; we hope these actions inspire others to do the same.”
In addition to ARAMARK, the National Restaurant Association recognized three others with the 2012 Restaurant Neighbor Award. They are: Taste Buds Management in New Orleans, in the mid-size business category, and King Eider’s Pub and Restaurant in Damariscotta, Maine, in the small business category. Tammy and Noel Cunningham, owners of Denver’s Strings Restaurant, are this year’s Cornerstone Humanitarians.
For more information on the Restaurant Neighbor Award program, as well as the national winners and finalists, visit the National Restaurant Association’s website, www.restaurant.org/awards.
View the social media version of the Restaurant Neighbor Award news release, including downloadable photos and video.
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Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 970,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of nearly 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 5-8, 2012, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart, including the National ProStart Invitational April 27-29, 2012, in Baltimore, Md.); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.
