Aramark employees give back to their local communities throughout the year in a variety of ways.
In fiscal 2023, thousands of Aramark employees volunteered to host and participate in more than 300 service projects in 12 countries, benefitting nearly 1.8 million people. Read more in the 2023 Be Well. Do Well. Progress Report.
MLK Day is not only a national holiday in the US; it is a day set aside to honor the memory and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with acts of service in the community.
To commemorate MLK Day this year, Aramark Community Relations invited employees who volunteered for community service projects to recommend a nonprofit 501(3) organization to be considered for one of 10 community grants.
'We encourage employees to give back throughout the year,' said Jami Leveen, Vice President, Community Partnerships, Aramark. 'Awarding grants to nonprofits that our people care most about was just one more way to demonstrate our commitment to giving back and encourage employees to participate in meaningful volunteer experiences.'
Meet the Volunteers
Aramark volunteers gave their time to a variety of organizations, participating in service projects over the MLK weekend. These ranged from stocking food bank shelves and cleaning up a local park to assembling bags of clothing for children and serving warm meals to the homeless.
Mike Gilligan, Senior Director of Marketing, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, cleaned-up Pinehurst Cemetery, one of the earliest segregated Black cemeteries in Florida.
'I think it is important to support all community members and acknowledge their history and contributions,' said Gilligan. 'This cemetery has been overlooked for decades, but a group is working to resuscitate it and tell the stories of many who are laid to rest here, including many military veterans.'
person cleaning up a cemetery
Mike Gilligan volunteered to clean up a historic cemetery in his community.
2024 mlk day volunteer video
Meet some other Aramark volunteers and their MLK weekend projects below and in the video.
Alyxandra Douglas raked leaves and picked up trash at a garden in Philadelphia, PA.
Brenda Jackson-Lee served community members in Tampa Bay, FL.
Daniel Hartley served meals to unhoused individuals in Shelbyville, TN.
Edna Eckelberry organized donated goods at a nonprofit in Flora, IL.
Leigh Maida delivered food items to community 'free fridges' in Philadelphia, PA.
Mary Fondas put together bags for children experiencing clothing insecurity in Boston, MA.
Teresa Young packed boxes of food for senior citizens at a food bank in Jarvisburg, NC.
Terry Jablonski assembled, transported, and delivered cat shelters in Philadelphia, PA.
Theresa Hebert stocked canned goods at a food pantry in Blackwood, NJ.
Ten nonprofit organizations will receive one time grants thanks to these remarkable volunteers.
ARAMARK 
