Nov 24, 2015

HMSHost Foundation Launches With Mission to Fight Root Causes of Poverty

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION KICKS OFF WITH FUNDRAISER GOLF TOURNAMENT; LAUNCH RAISES $250,000

MUSIC ICON AND ENTREPRENEUR SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS TOASTS ANNOUNCEMENT WITH CÎROC VODKA AND DELEÓN TEQUILA, PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR THE NEW FOUNDATION

BETHESDA, MD — Global restaurateur HMSHost Corporation announced today the launch of the new charitable organization, HMSHost Foundation, with the mission to fight poverty in the local community with food, shelter, education, and occupation.

“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,” said HMSHost President & CEO Steve Johnson. “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.”

Through innovative and creative solutions tailored to the needs of these communities, and in cooperation with local agencies and organizations already making a difference, HMSHost Foundation endeavors to do the following:

• Combat hunger and promote nutritional wellness through food related initiatives;
• Provide opportunity for financial stability through job training and placement;
• Encourage the next generation through access to education and training;
• Honor our veterans and their families by supporting programs that meet their needs for food, shelter, medical care, and job training and placement.

HMSHost Foundation kicked off with a fundraising golf tournament and silent auction in Orlando, with presenting sponsors Diageo and Anheuser-Busch, and other sponsor partners. Special guest Sean “Diddy” Combs toasted the group using his signature spirits CIROC vodka and DeLeón tequila. He also shared his own commitment to giving back and desire to take action, pledging $25,000 towards the foundation’s efforts in fighting poverty. The sponsorships for the golf tournament, Mr. Comb’s pledge, and a generous contribution by HMSHost Corporation, brought the total raised for HMSHost Foundation’s launch to $250,000, to be used toward fighting the root causes of poverty.

“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,” said HMSHost Foundation President Paul Mamalian. “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.”