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by Dan Perkins
At the outset of this Season
of Givings, several
hundred people gathered in
the gilded ballroom of The
Palmer House Hilton Chicago
to celebrate a unique
partnership between ARAMARK,
a Philadelphia-based global
organization with regional
offices in Chicago, and the
Jane Addams Hull House
Association (Hull House),
one of Chicago's most
venerated social service
agencies.
In an era of corporate
cutbacks, ARAMARK's
sustained three-year
commitment to Hull House
warrants attention from the
corporate community and the
public at-large. Through its
partnership with Hull House,
ARAMARK brings world class
talent and expertise to Hull
House.
ARAMARK is a leader
in professional services,
providing award-winning food
services, facilities
management and uniform and
career apparel to global
clients, including health
care institutions,
universities and school
districts, stadiums and
arenas, and businesses.
Founded in 1889, Hull House
is one of Chicago's largest
non-profit organizations
committed to improving
social conditions for
underserved people and
communities. The Jane
Addams Hull House
Association is widely
respected for providing
innovative programs that
benefit 60,000 individuals,
families and community
members annually.
ARAMARK and Hull House began
their partnership in 2008,
through ARAMARK
Building Community, a
corporate initiative
designed to fulfill the
ARAMARK's commitment to
strengthen community centers
in more than 30 cities over
the next several years.
The Jane Addams Legacy
Award was presented to
ARAMARK on November 18,
2009, in recognition of
the company's extensive support for Hull
House's programs.
As part of the Awards
presentation, a video was
shown highlighting the many
ways ARAMARK helps the Jane
Addams Hull House
Association serve
deserving clients. Included among those
featured in the video was a
couple named Bruce
and Evelyn.
For nearly a decade, the
couple had abused drugs and
alcohol. When Bruce
and Evelyn decided to pursue
a more constructive
lifestyle,
they enrolled in
the Job Readiness Training
Program offered through Hull House's
Employment Program.
They learned essential life
and career skills that
better enabled them to focus
on job
planning, appropriate
workplace behavior and
effective job search
techniques.
Within a
week of graduating from
Hull House, the husband and
wife team was employed
by ARAMARK in a variety of
positions ranging from food
service to housekeeping.
Steady employment enabled
the couple to eventually move into
a new home.
For years, the Bruce and
Evelyn had lived in and out of
abandoned buildings.
Jeff Gilliam, chief
financial officer of ARAMARK
Education, said the
Jane Addams Legacy Award
provides a reason to "show
other corporations the value
of getting involved in this
way." Gilliam, who
serves on the Board of
Trustees for the Jane Addams
Hull House Association,
cited several benefits of ARAMARK's partnership
with Hull House. In
his written message to
attendees, Gilliam noted
that
ARAMARK employees have bonded
around their involvement
with Hull House and
their involvements have
enriched not only the lives of Hull House clients
but also their own.
Clarence N. Wood, President
and CEO of Hull House
acknowledged the importance
of the partnership with ARAMARK.
In his written message to
attendees Wood said, "In
many ways, the support which
our donors and the
volunteers bring to Jane
Addams Hull House
Association helps us to
focus more and more on the
larger needs of our society
and helps us to feel
supported in the work we
do."
While the Jane Addams
Legacy Award celebrates
civic leadership, community
impact and corporate social
responsibility, this year's
Award also provides a powerful
reminder of the goodness
that abounds even in the
midst of a troubled economy. It's one more reasons to
have and spread cheer this holiday season.
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