Sodexho Recognized for Innovation in Nutrition by Rhode Island Governor Carcieri

GAITHERSBURG, Md., November 9, 2007 -Sodexho, Inc. was recently recognized by Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri for creative approaches to wellness programs designed to promote healthy behaviors in its School Services division. Sodexho School Services at Pawtucket School District earned an Honorable Mention in the first annual Governor's Awards for Wellness Innovation. 

Sodexho at Pawtucket was selected for its Feeding Rhode Island's Future campaign, which Sodexho coordinates at 15 local high schools in order to increase applications for the National School Lunch Program's (NSLP) free and reduced-priced meal plan. During the event, local radio personalities played games and music for students, to encourage participation in the program.

"The recipients of the Governor's Awards for Wellness Innovation and the Honorable Mentions serve as winning examples of resourcefulness in wellness and health promotion," said Governor Carcieri. "Some showed a creative use of limited resources, others developed programs with an element of fun, and some were particularly successful in reaching underserved populations. The bottom line is that we can learn from all of them."

Almost all public schools, 95 percent, participate in the NSLP, which serves an average of more than twenty-six million meals per day. It typically provides students with one-third of their recommended dietary allowances, which gives them the food they need to continue to learn throughout the day. Without the school lunch program, many students would have nothing to eat during lunch time.

Sodexho School Services supports the effort to advance student achievement. Providing student nutrition services to more than 470 school districts across the country, Sodexho offers healthy options for school breakfast, lunch and after-school snacks. In addition, Sodexho prides itself on a variety of nutrition education and wellness programs that teach students, parents and teachers the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Programs range from Healthy Habits, which emphasizes the importance of hand-washing to the A to Z Salad Bar which introduces students to new or unusual fruits and vegetables. Sodexho supports a variety community relations programs, including summer feeding programs for at-risk children, back pack programs during the year, and wellness councils.

Sodexho, Inc. (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.3 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 125,000 employees. Sodexho serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexho, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a subsidiary of Sodexho Alliance (www.sodexho.com). Sodexho, Inc. funds the Sodexho Foundation (www.helpstophunger.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $9.2 million in grants to fight hunger in America.