HMSHost Corp. is taking on poverty with the launch of its new charitable organization, the HMSHost Foundation.
“As the leading provider of dining in travel venues across North America, the HMSHost organization is uniquely positioned to give back to the communities in which we operate by combating the root causes of poverty at the local level,” says Steve Johnson, president and CEO of HMSHost. “Every day, our associates reach out to our communities through food donations, composting and other sustainability projects, and educational outreach, among other initiatives. We’ve seen the positive impact our joint efforts can make, and now it is time to take that to the next level. We look forward to working with our partners to enhance our support and make an even greater impact.”
In conjunction with local agencies and organizations, the HMSHost Foundation will work to:
- Fight hunger and promote nutritional wellness;
- Provide job training and placement to help people achieve financial stability;
- Inspire the next generation with education and training; and
- Help veterans and their families with programs that meet their needs for food, shelter, medical care, and job training and replacement.
The foundation was launched with a fundraising golf tournament and silent auction in Orlando, Fla., with presenting sponsors Diageo and Anheuser-Busch, as well as other sponsor partners. Sean “Diddy” Combs was present as a special guest and pledged $25,000 to the foundation. The total raised through the sponsorships of the golf tournament, Combs’ pledge and a contribution by HMSHost was $250,000.
“I’d like to thank all of our partner sponsors who were critical in helping these efforts take off and to Mr. Combs for his generosity and commitment to this mission,” says Paul Mamalian, president of the foundation. “Your support of HMSHost Foundation will help us to bring attention to the causes of poverty and will assist us in our first steps to bring it to an end.”
