Manna Food Center names Sodexo first Corporate Hunger Hero in Montgomery County

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 17, 2008 - Montgomery County-based Sodexo, a world leader in foodservice and facilities management, was named the first corporate 'Hunger Hero' by Manna Food Center during the charity's Silver Anniversary celebration. Manna specifically recognized Sodexo for:

• Donating thousands of pounds of nutritious food each year.
• Hosting an annual employee cereal drive that collects breakfast food for needy children. In 2007 the company collected enough cereal to fill more than 19,255 bowls and enough milk to provide 476 servings to area families and children heading back to school.
• Serving as a partner in Manna's Smart Sacks program - marshalling employee volunteers each week who fill backpacks with nutritious, kid-friendly foods that provide food over the weekend for needy students at the Washington Grove Elementary School.

Sodexo was also recognized for providing meeting space for Manna meetings, retreats and other events. Members of both the legal department as well as the company's registered dietitians provide pro-bono work, helping Manna achieve its mission of fighting hunger and feeding hope in Montgomery County.

“It's nearly impossible to summarize or over-state the many ways that Sodexo fights hunger,” said Amy Gabala, executive director for Manna. “Their commitment to community and ending hunger has made them an invaluable partner and we are pleased to present them with this acknowledgement.”

The company formally identified fighting hunger and malnutrition as one of the 'pillars' of its corporate citizenship efforts, along with sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and wellness. Sodexo has a long-standing commitment to fighting hunger. Overall the company has contributed more than $14 million in in-kind donations to help end hunger.

Sodexo, Inc.
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com) is a leading integrated food and facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.3 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo, Inc.serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds the Sodexo Foundation (www.sodexofoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $9.2 million in grants to fight hunger in America.

Manna Food Center
Manna Food Center provides food to nearly 2,000 households each month, helping the working poor stretch their limited dollars so they can afford a better life. Manna Food Center gives families the opportunity to share their day over a healthy, home-cooked dinner. Manna provides children with the chance to succeed in school by helping ensure their nutritional needs are met, offers strength to our neighbors who are ill or elderly, and provides a helping hand to people who face temporary hardship or unemployment. Manna also provides food at no charge each year to twenty-five partner organizations This frees up $1 million annually to fund drug rehabilitation, life skill training, child care, and shelter.