Heroes of Everyday Life - 2008
Every year, Our Heroes of Everyday Life® are honored for the work they do to help others. We are extremely proud of the good our 2008 Heroes have done.
Laura Carpenter, General Manager
Government Services, St. Louis, MO
Under Laura's leadership, the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis has collected 40,000 food items over the last two years for the Ebenezer Food Pantry in Eastern Missouri. For the last eight years she has volunteered for April Showers, a program designed by the Girl Scouts, to collect personal hygiene items for low-income people. Since 2003, Laura has redirected surplus food from Sodexo to the Food Pantry, providing an average of 10,000 pounds of food each year. Laura was also instrumental in setting up similar food donation programs at two other Sodexo accounts in the area.
Joseph Cross, Food Production Manager
Corporate Services, Des Moines, IA
Over the years Joseph has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of hunger and to provide food to those in need. His efforts include preparing meals for a local shelter in Des Moines, collecting more than 6,000 canned goods for the Des Moines Area Religious Council's emergency food pantry, and leading the collection and distribution of 100 food boxes for low-income children to have a healthy meal each day during the summer months when access to the National Lunch Program is not available. Joseph has also provided leadership to youth groups, which have raised more than $10,000 to fight global hunger since 2005.
Craig Dominie, General Manager
Healthcare Services, South Boston, VA
Since 2004, Craig has planned and implemented a multifaceted Sodexo Servathon program to collect food, raise money, and donate time at the local soup kitchen. To date, efforts spearheaded by Craig have generated more than 3,000 pounds of food for Good Samaritan and the local soup kitchen, and more than $1,300 has been raised. Recently, thanks to Craig's efforts, the client has agreed to match these funds dollar-for-dollar. Craig has also played an active role in recruiting his team to support the Sodexo Foundation through payroll deductions.
Donald Keith, General Manager
Campus Services, Orange City, IA
For the past 12 years, Donald has lead alternative spring break trips for college students to New Orleans, where they would spend the week feeding the hungry and visiting the homeless. Donald donates surplus food to local homeless shelters, and in 2007 began providing regular hot meals to 50 clients at the local shelter every other month. Donald also coordinates canned food drives on campus.
Steven Mangan, General Manager
Campus Services, Bloomington, IN
For the past three years, Steven has led Sodexo and Indiana University in various initiatives to fight hunger, including supporting the Hoosier Hills Food Bank repacking program and the surplus food donation program, donating more than 15,000 pounds of surplus food. Steven coordinates many food drives on campus and has helped collect more than 7,300 pounds of canned food. Steven is also an active board member of the local food bank and is instrumental in the planning committee as they engage in the food bank's effort to relocate to a larger facility.
Michael Miller, District Manager
School Services, Saline, MI
Every year since 2004, Michael has planted a 2,500 square foot garden, harvesting more than 5,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables that he donates to Food Gatherers to help meet the nutritional needs of families and children who use the food bank. Michael is a STOP Hunger Champion, motivating and encouraging his unit managers to fight hunger in their community. Michael is also instrumental in growing the Backpack Program at Sodexo-run accounts, providing school children with kid-friendly nutritious snacks and meals over the weekend when access to the National School Lunch program is not available.
Susan Niemczyk, Operations Vice President
School Services, Downers Grove, IL
Susan was instrumental in developing a partnership between Sodexo and PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), recruiting and engaging hundreds of Sodexo employees to provide more than 3,600 meals and donate surplus food to the shelter. For more than five years, Susan has regularly volunteered for the PADS program and in 2006 was nominated to the Board of Directors. In addition, Susan has helped identify job opportunities for two PADS clients at Sodexo sites in the area. Susan is also actively involved in Sodexo Servathon efforts that support both the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Jim Toczydlowski, General Manager
Campus Services, Syracuse, NY
Since 2005, Jim has been involved with and served on the Board of the Interreligious Food Consortium (IFC), where he raises awareness and funds for the network of 75 local food pantries. From 2002 to present, Jim has been involved with a variety of canned food drives, including Sodexo Cans Across America, collecting nearly 9,000 pounds of food to date. In addition, Jim has donated surplus food to St. Lucy's Food Pantry, the Rescue Mission of Syracuse, and to Hopps Memorial CME Church.
Congratulations to all for helping to make a difference in the communities we serve.
