Sodexho USA Awards $300,000 to the National Council of La Raza

GAITHERSBURG, MD, August 23, 2005 - Sodexho USA (NYSE: SDX), the nation's leading provider of food service and facilities management, will provide $300,000 over the next three years to the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) in Washington, D.C.

“Sodexho is pleased to make a long-term commitment to the National Council of La Raza,” said Sodexho's Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Michael Montelongo. “We believe strongly in the role that the National Council of La Raza plays within the Hispanic community and are excited about supporting initiatives that will create opportunities for our Hispanic youth.”

The award will support various programs and activities focused on providing youth with opportunities for networking, information sharing, and leadership development and will also help to fund two NCLR Lideres Congressos (NCLR Youth Leadership Forums) at Sodexho campus locations, as well as support a Tri-Organization Youth Leadership Forum.

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 110,000+ employees.

Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.