Restaurant Neighbor Award 2008 Finalist
Maryland

Sodexo
Gaithersburg, MD

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.

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