Aramark and Casa Central Help Chicago Residents Gain Job Skills

CHICAGO, IL, September 17, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The unemployment rate in Chicago fell this year, but many youth and adults remain unemployed and in need of basic skills training, such as resume writing, interview techniques or life skills. These basic skills can help them find – and keep – good jobs.

Today, volunteers from Aramark, the $15 billion global provider of award-winning services in food, facilities management and uniforms, are helping youth and adults gain job skills by establishing a new center for workforce readiness at Casa Central’s La Posada location. As part of the company’s global Aramark Building Community Day of service, thousands of employees around the world are volunteering their time to inspire families to lead healthier lives and empower youth and adults to obtain valuable job skills. 

"Chicago is very important to us, as we have thousands of clients and employees who call Chicago home,” said Eric J. Foss, Aramark Chairman, President and CEO. “Today, on ABC Day, we hope to make a lasting impact on this community by empowering youth and adults to be successful.”

At La Posada, which offers housing and support to homeless families, more than 100 employees will help people learn skills to help them find jobs. Aramark chefs will teach culinary classes, while other volunteers will hold workshops on hospitality job opportunities, as well as resume writing, computer literacy and other workforce topics. Volunteers will also enhance several spaces at La Posada, including the career clothing closet, creating and re-organizing a storage space and donating interview and work apparel.

In addition, volunteers will teach preschoolers about healthy eating and helping them create nutritious yogurt parfaits as part of Aramark’s ongoing health and wellness programs with Casa Central.

“We’re so grateful to Aramark and its employees for taking the time to volunteer today,” said Ann Alvarez, CEO of Casa Central, one of Chicago’s largest social services agencies. “The volunteers will help us create strong tools to prepare youth and adults with the job training and educational services they need, while offering the participants an effective environment for growth.”

Throughout the year, volunteers will host ongoing culinary and hospitality training workshops at Casa Central to help community members build skills and find employment.

Today’s effort is an extension of Aramark Building Community, the company’s year-round global volunteer and philanthropic program dedicated to improving family health and helping people succeed in the workforce. Since 2008, Aramark has invested more than $9 million in volunteer expertise, financial and in-kind resources to strengthen communities. More than 30,000 employees have dedicated their skills through hundreds of volunteer projects impacting over four million people.  

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) is in the customer service business across food, facilities and uniforms, wherever people work, learn, recover, and play. United by a passion to serve, our more than 270,000 employees deliver experiences that enrich and nourish the lives of millions of people in 21 countries around the world every day. Aramark is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE and the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.Aramark.com/abcday 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.