GAITHERSBURG, MD - November 6, 2008 - Imagine a food drive that can mobilize a nationwide network of caring communities to collect nearly 400,000 pounds of food in a single day. Now imagine how that food will fill the sparse shelves at local food banks suffering from slowing donations and rising need.

Sodexo, a leading provider of food and facilities management services, and its communities across the country will join together to help fight hunger and perhaps set a food drive world record with its "Cans Across America" program on Nov. 12, 2008.

While gathering food to replenish local food pantries, more than 530 U.S. college campuses and more than 200 senior centers and hospitals served by Sodexo will attempt to break the record for the "largest food drive by a non-charitable organization in a 24-hour period" in the Guinness World Records(R) by collecting 396,833 pounds of non-perishable food.

All food donated through "Cans Across America" will be given to local charities in the communities surrounding each participating Sodexo facility. Campuses participating to break the world record include University of Tampa, Georgia Tech, George Mason in Va., Fordham University in N.Y., Curry College in Mass., Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, North Carolina Central University, and Palm Beach Atlantic University.

"'Cans Across America' is a wonderful way to combine the energy and enthusiasm of our communities with the STOP Hunger initiatives of our foundation," said Steve Brady, president of Sodexo Foundation. "And going for the food collection world record adds spirited fun to some serious public service."

Sodexo, Inc.
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com) is a leading integrated food and facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.3 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo, Inc. serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.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.

Sodexo

Sodexo

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com ) is a leading integrated facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.sodexofoundation.org ), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $11 million in grants to fight hunger in America.

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