The Cornerstone Award is given to the individual or company who best illustrates that the Foodservice Industry stands as the cornerstone of the community and the economy. Their successful businesses support their local communities by creating multiple job opportunities, and by financially supporting non-profit groups, schools, scouts, and youth sports teams. Recipients have also contributed greatly to the State’s healthy economy—creating jobs, purchasing goods, and paying innumerable taxes and license fees.

Foodservice giant Sodexo has found a way to reward students who work to stop hunger in their communities. The company’s STOP Hunger Scholarship program provides financial assistance to elementary, secondary and college students who volunteer their time for hunger-related causes. In 2007 Sodexo expanded its annual awards program honoring employees’ hunger-relief efforts to include students. The company solicits student applications through Web sites and posts notices throughout the company’s 6,000 locations. Staff and managers work with school officials and community leaders to encourage applications. In 2007 and 2008, five students and their charities received scholarships and grants. The students received $3,000 scholarships, and the food-related agency of their choice received a $3,000 grant from the Sodexo Foundation.

Sodexo, Inc. is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. We set out each morning to treat every person we encounter with the highest level of respect and service. And when you put that effort, expertise, and enthusiasm together, it adds up to “a better day” for our clients, their customers, and our people.

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