Sodexo Employee Volunteers Lend Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing Expertise During Pride Month

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /3BL Media/ — Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, today announced that its employee business resource group, PRIDE (People Respecting Individuality, Diversity and Equality), will again leverage its members’ professional skills and expertise in a week of volunteer service to those in the LGBT community. Dubbed PRIDE Provides, the annual event takes place this year during the week of June 20th. Community service, awareness-building and fundraising activities are typically held in several U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and the Bay Area.

One of the ways in which Sodexo celebrates the month of Pride is by participating in a week of volunteer community service through its program, PRIDE Provides. Launched in 2012, PRIDE Provides aims to serve the community suffering from HIV and AIDS through volunteer work at local community centers or nonprofit organizations that support HIV/AIDS or LGBT food banks and soup kitchens.  The program is the product of Sodexo’s employee business resource group, PRIDE, which focuses on emphasizing the importance of diversity in the workplace, with a specific inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees.

“There are more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. living with HIV according to the CDC, with an estimated 50,000 new infections occurring here per year,” said Lou Fiore, Chair of Sodexo PRIDE. “Sodexo’s strategic efforts around PRIDE Provides are intended to improve quality of life for those affected and to raise awareness in communities such that we can significantly reduce these tragic numbers.”

Sodexo PRIDE members frequently partner with a number of community-based organizations such as Project Open Hand, a nonprofit organization that delivers over 2,500 meals a day to critically ill members of the community, including those affected by HIV and AIDS. Sodexo employees leverage their expertise as registered dietitians, chefs, supply managers, etc. to volunteer at soup kitchens, host food drives, donate to food banks, prepare meals, and serve during meal time at an HIV/AIDS hospital or hospice. Through their service, PRIDE members and PRIDE Provides are improving quality of life for those battling the disease in LGBT communities all across the country.

“The horrifying act that took place in Orlando last week gives new meaning to the mission of PRIDE Provides,” added Fiore. “We all have a role to play in raising awareness not only about HIV/AIDS and its prevention. We’re equally challenged to combat the scourge of hate that can arbitrarily take the lives of so many in such short order.”

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.

Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.