PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aramark (NYSE:ARMK), the award-winning food and facilities partner of more than 400 colleges and universities across the U.S., is taking the lead in addressing food insecurity in the higher education space through a multiyear commitment to support Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit who partners with colleges and universities to provide financially and logistically efficient anti-hunger programs.
Aramark is partnering with Swipe Out Hunger as a founding funder of its Research and Development (R&D) Lab, which seeks to surface and promote high impact, innovative solutions to address campus hunger. Aramark's support of the R&D Lab enables Swipe Out Hunger to create change across campus systems. This will include piloting cutting-edge projects on campuses, leveraging data and research and developing advocacy strategies to catalyze public funding for higher education basic needs programs.
“Swipe Out Hunger has been developing its meal swipe donation program since 2010 and now we're looking to provide support to campuses that complement and go beyond meal swipes,” said Rachel Sumekh, CEO and founder of Swipe Out Hunger. “Seventy two percent of students can eat more regularly after receiving swipes, so Aramark’s support allows us to go beyond that, and now provide resources and practices for building a campus where all students feel they are nourished for success.”
“We are excited to announce our partnership with Swipe Out Hunger,” said Jeff Gilliam, president of Aramark’s Higher Education business. “We have been working with our college and university partners to address this growing issue, and welcome Swipe Out Hunger’s collaboration and expertise to develop meaningful plans that better serve the needs of students on campus.”
In addition to its partnership with Swipe Out Hunger, Aramark supports the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, based in Philadelphia, to drive innovative practice, evidence-based policymaking, and effective communications. The Hope Center conducted the most prominent and expansive research study dedicated to food insecurity on college campuses. Their research showed that one in three students are facing food insecurity nationally, and paved the way for students, university administrators, nonprofit partners and other stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue around the issue.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, state-of-the-art healthcare providers, the world’s leading educational institutions, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 270,000 team members deliver experiences that enrich and nourish millions of lives every day through innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms. We work to put our sustainability goals into action by focusing on initiatives that engage our employees, empower healthy living, preserve our planet and build local communities. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, as well as an employer of choice by the Human Rights Campaign and DiversityInc. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Swipe Out Hunger
Swipe Out Hunger is a national nonprofit committed to ending college student hunger. It partners with colleges and universities to provide financially and logistically efficient anti-hunger programs. The organization’s flagship program, “The Swipe Drive,” allows students to donate their extra meal plan swipes to their peers who face food insecurity on campus. Recognized for its entrepreneurial nature, Swipe Out Hunger has been named an Obama White House Champion For Change and its founder, Rachel Sumekh, has landed a spot on the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. From its beginnings as a grassroots movement at UCLA in 2010, Swipe Out Hunger has since served 1.7 million nourishing meals across 32 states and more than 80 campuses. For more information, visit swipehunger.org.
