Sodexho USA's Defense Services Honored With NISH Award

GAITHERSBURG, MD-June 29, 2005-Sodexho USA, the nation's leading provider of food and facilities management, announced today that its Defense Services Division was recently recognized with the President's Award from NISH, a national, nonprofit organization whose mission is to create employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities by securing Federal contracts through the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program for its network of community-based nonprofit agencies.

The NISH President's Award recognizes individuals or organizations that display outstanding support in creating or providing employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities through the JWOD Program.

“Sodexho has always been committed to improving the quality of daily life for our employees, customers and the communities we serve and this award further demonstrates our commitment to improving opportunities for the disabled,” said Greg Verone, president of Sodexho USA's Defense Services Division. “We are proud to receive this award from NISH, but nothing beats making a real difference in peoples' lives - that's the real prize. Through our partnership with NISH, Sodexho has developed or maintained over 800 jobs for the disabled.”

“The President's Award recognizes both companies who have shown extraordinary effort and support of the JWOD Program,” said Bob Chamberlin, president and CEO of NISH. “Sodexho and its Defense Services Division embodied these characteristics and was an example of how a company can positively impact the lives of persons with severe disabilities.”

While Sodexho received the NISH President's Award, its partner The United States Marine Corps was also recognized by the Secretary of the Navy with the Admiral People's Award. The award was given to the Headquarters of the Marine Corps at Henderson Hall for creating opportunities for persons with disabilities. Sodexho, through the subcontractor ServiceSource, currently employs 20 persons with disabilities at Henderson Hall.

Sodexho has an ongoing commitment to an inclusive and diverse work environment that provides career opportunities for people with disabilities. Recently, Sodexho was named one of DiversityInc's Top 10 Companies for People with Disabilities for 2005 and also received the 'Employer of the Year' award from the Autism Services Association for providing employment to young adults with autism.

NISH is a national, nonprofit organization whose mission is to create employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities by securing Federal contracts through the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program for its network of community-based nonprofit agencies. Providing employment opportunities to more than 45,000 people, the JWOD Program is the single largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the United States. More than 600 participating nonprofit agencies employ these individuals and provide quality, goods and services to the Federal Government.

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 120,000+ employees. Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.