Aramark Building Community Expands Commitment to the Salvation Army of Southern California

The Salvation Army's Whittier/Santa Fe Springs Transitional Living Center will receive a much-deserved facelift on Thursday, June 25. More than 150 employees from ARAMARK, a global provider of professional services, will dedicate their time, energy and talents to enhance the indoor and outdoor campus at 12000 East Washington Blvd. in Whittier.

The day of service is part of ARAMARK Building Community, a company-wide initiative launched in 2008 that fosters long-term support for local community centers in more than 25 cities. The Whittier/Santa Fe Springs center is part of The Salvation Army's Southern California Division and provides a safe and healing refuge for families who have recently experienced a time of major personal crisis.

"ARAMARK has always been committed to our communities and through ARAMARK Building Community we are strengthening this commitment year after year," said Brad Drummond, president ARAMARK Uniform Services and local ARAMARK Building Community executive sponsor. "Our support of The Salvation Army here in Southern California leverages the diverse work skills of our employees to make a real and sustained difference for families in need."

The Salvation Army's Whittier/Santa Fe Springs campus will receive a substantial transformation, including the creation of a large-scale inspirational mural on an exterior wall. Other projects include painting a variety of murals for six rooms throughout the facility, construction of storage units, shelves and benches, and landscaping the outside area with new flower beds.

"Little details make a huge difference in the lives of our residents and the ARAMARK volunteers' enhancements will certainly help brighten and make a huge difference at the center," said Lt. Col. Victor A. Leslie, The Salvation Army Southern California Divisional Commander. "This event and partnership with ARAMARK Building Community couldn't come at a better time for us. The center provides services free of charge to our residents, funded through community donations, so the day's projects will add much-needed services to the center that would not have happened without the generosity and support of ARAMARK."

The Salvation Army's Whittier/Santa Fe Springs transitional living program serves as the primary transitional living program for homeless mothers and their children who are victims of domestic violence and/or substance abuse in Southeast Los Angeles County. The program provides comprehensive education and vocational training for adults and children, ultimately leading to permanent employment and independent housing. In 2008, 54 families (146 adults and children) received general assistance and comprehensive in-house services from the center.

ARAMARK employees will work side-by-side with City Year Los Angeles, a group dedicated to engaging youth in full-time community service and ARAMARK's volunteerism partner, on the 29 enhancement projects taking place that day.

A recent study found that 61 percent of Americans believe that in the current economic climate, community centers play a more essential role than ever*. Respondents noted that providing basic needs such as food and clothing, affordable childcare and preschool, job training and after school programs are the most important services that community centers offer.

This project is one of several initiatives that ARAMARK is undertaking throughout the Los Angeles area with the Salvation Army. Last year, ARAMARK volunteers revitalized the Salvation Army Red Shield Youth and Community Center, and during the 2008 holiday season, ARAMARK provided Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings to more than 1,000 families in the Pico Union neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles. Throughout 2009, ARAMARK plans on hosting career fairs and workforce readiness seminars, among other activities.

*The study was conducted for ARAMARK via telephone by International Communications Research, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted November 7-11, 2008 among a representative sample of 1017 adults aged 18 years or older. The margin of error is +/-3.07% at the 95% confidence level. More information about ICR can be obtained by visiting www.icrsurvey.com.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in without discrimination for 126 years in the United States. More than 35 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.salvationarmy-socal.org.

About ARAMARK Building Community

ARAMARK Building Community enriches the lives of families in need by supporting local community centers to help people of all generations learn, earn and thrive. ARAMARK recognizes the important role community centers play in addressing the comprehensive needs of individuals and families and is providing a range of resources including grants, volunteers and in-kind contributions. Through ARAMARK Building Community, volunteers will use their expertise to help youth and adults develop critical, employable work skills and connect them to career opportunities; support families with nutrition and wellness education; provide basic needs such as food and clothing; and help identified partners run cleaner, safer and more efficient facilities to enhance and strengthen the Center's programs on an ongoing basis.

About ARAMARK Corporation

ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, www.aramark.com.

SOURCE: ARAMARK Corporation

Salvation Army Contact: 
Dawn Wells 
(213) 553-3255 (direct) 
(805) 403-8177 (cell) 
Dawn.Wells@usw.salvationarmy.org 
or 
Media Contact: 
Krystin Williamson, Allison & Partners 
(619) 533-7974 (direct) 
(619) 886-9256 (cell) - ON-SITE 
Krystin@allisonpr.com

Related terms: apparel, army, california, career, children, community, construction, contributions, discrimination, dollar, education, employment, energy, executive, food, grants, health, homeless, hosting, housing, landscaping, local, magazine, nutrition, partnership, president, research, training, unions, vocational, washington, web