Sodexho Foundation Provides $150,000 to First National Organization Dedicated to Providing Scholarships to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans

Gaithersburg, MD, May 16, 2005- Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) announced today that The Sodexho Foundation, its independent charitable organization devoted to fighting against hunger in America, will donate $150,000 over three years to the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) to provide scholarships to college-bound students of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) heritage.

The contribution will be devoted to supporting students who would otherwise be unable to attend a post-secondary institution without financial assistance. Furthermore, in recognition of the fact that most scholarship recipients require support throughout their tenure as college students, Sodexho will devote its funding support to each of its APIASF scholars, based on their academic performance, for a minimum of three years.

“Sodexho is truly proud of its commitment and support to students in need of financial assistance to help them pursue their goals of higher education,” said Rohini Anand, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief diversity officer at Sodexho USA. “Since May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it is fitting that we recognize the many contributions attributed to Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. However, we also wanted to join with leaders of APIASF and other civic organizations in noting that there are still many Asians and Pacific Islanders who don't have the means to support their families with even their basic needs. Sodexho believes that access to education is a path that can lead to resolving many of our country's challenges, including the elimination of hunger.”

The Sodexho Foundation has a strong commitment to fighting the root causes of hunger in America and has identified lack of education and unemployment as leading factors. The Foundation has supported programs and initiatives that work toward eliminating hunger through scholarship funding and job skills training. Recently, Sodexho was named one of Asian Enterprise Magazine's Top Ten Companies for Asian Americans in 2005 for offering substantial resources and opportunities for Asian Pacific American business owners and employees.

“When APIASF was contacted by Sodexho, I was extremely impressed with their understanding of the needs of APIAs in this country,” said Tim Leong, president and executive director of APIASF. “They also recognized immediately that many students and their families in our community live below the official poverty line, and don't have the means to pay for the enormous costs associated with a college education.”

“From our experience as a new national organization, we fully understand that the need for scholarships in the APIA community is critical,” said Tariq Khan, APIASF Communications and Marketing Committee Chairman. “In our very first year, APIASF received more than 3,700 scholarship applications for a little more than 160 national scholarships. We need more visionary companies such as Sodexho USA to join our cause.”

About APIASF
APIASF (www.apiasf.org) is the first national organization devoted solely to the scholarship needs of college-bound students of Asian and Pacific Islander American heritage. This month, APIASF will award its first scholarships, totaling more than $300,000. APIASF's Mission is to ensure that every Asian and Pacific Islander American student is enabled to attend a post-secondary college, university or vocational institution regardless of their cultural background, ethnicity or financial means. APIASF is temporarily based in San Francisco and is a national, non-profit charitable organization.

About The Sodexho Foundation
The Sodexho Foundation (www.helpstophunger.org) is an independent charitable organization that is leading the fight against hunger by supporting initiatives that focus on eliminating the root causes of hunger in the US. Administrative costs are paid by Sodexho USA to ensure that all money raised is directed to those in need.