Aramark Mobilizes Employees to Improve the Health of Chicago Families
Aramark employees bring health and wellness education and awareness programs to Casa Central as part of Aramark Building Community Day
CHICAGO, September 20, 2016 /3BL Media/ – As part of Aramark’s ongoing commitment to health and wellness, more than 100 Aramark associates are uniting today at Chicago’s Casa Central 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.
In partnership with Casa Central, Aramark volunteers will lead interactive healthy food discovery workshops with preschoolers, conduct cooking demos and enhance an outdoor garden. Additionally, the team will revitalize a food pantry and organize a community-sourced recipe book. Around the world, thousands of Aramark associates, 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.
“We are proud of our talented associates who use their expertise and skills to help local Chicagoans make the right healthy lifestyle choices and improve their overall health,” said Jeff Connor, Chief Growth Officer, Aramark. “Aramark Building Community Day provides Casa Central families in underserved communities with the knowledge and resources they need to lead healthier lives. We are committed to delivering experiences that enrich and nourish lives in the Chicago community.”
Since 2012, Casa Central and Aramark have worked together on several initiatives to support the broader community with focus on health education and center revitalization efforts. Earlier this year, Casa Central also 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.
“It is heartening to see an organization, such as Aramark, truly understand that to transform and strengthen communities, we must come together in partnership to make a significant impact on those who are most in need,” said Nilda La Luz, Interim President and CEO, Casa Central. “Aramark’s commitment to community building allows Casa Central to say yes to: one more child to inspire lifelong learning; a family to increase their immediate needs and foster their self-reliance; and, our seniors – encouraging them to thrive and live healthy lifestyles during their golden years. We deeply value Aramark’s philanthropic efforts and their volunteer programs, which help us to further advance our mission and serve our community.”
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 Casa Central
Since 1954, Casa Central has grown to become the largest Hispanic social service agency in Chicago, transforming lives and strengthening communities. Casa Central serves more than 20,000 individuals each year through 12 comprehensive programs. Casa Central’s network of social services propels a diverse population of all ages toward self-sufficiency and a higher quality of life. La Posada Housing Program has been helping homeless families since 1989, with a goal of placing families in their own independent and permanent housing within 120 days. For more information, visit www.casacentral.org.
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