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State-level award is highest honor given to a civilian employer GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The United States Department of Defense (DOD) recently honored Sodexho (NYSE:SDX), the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in North America with the prestigious Pro Patria Award. The Pro Patria Award is the highest state-level award given to a civilian employer by DOD. Sodexho received this award by the Maryland Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a division of the Defense Department. Each year, one employer is honored at the state level for its support of employees who are members of the National Guard or Military Reserves. Recipients of the award demonstrate exceptional support for United States national defense by adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to serve as Guard members and reservists. John Bush, market president and COO received the award on behalf of Sodexho "It is an honor for Sodexho to receive the prestigious award," said Peri Bridger, senior vice president and chief human resources officer. "The greater honor, however, is to employ brave men and women who serve in our United States armed services. We know that without their dedication to our country, life as we know it would be much different." Sodexho will also be Maryland's nominee on behalf of ESGR for the national Freedom Award, of which only five are presented each year. Sodexho received an unprecedented 38 nominations for this award on behalf of its employees. Sodexho is the only integrated food and facilities management services company to receive Five-Star status from ESGR. In order to receive Five-Star status, an organization must support associates who serve in the National Guard and Reserves and have its policies and procedures in compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA). Additional requirements include promoting training for managers and supervisors to effectively manage associates who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. About ESGR The ESGR is an agency within the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The committee was established by Presidential Executive Order in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members and their civilian employers and to assist in resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. Today, ESGR operates through a network of more than 4,200 volunteers in 54 committees located in each state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Europe. The Maryland ESGR Committee is tasked to promote understanding of the National Guard and Reserve with both public and private sector employers. About Sodexho Sodexho, Inc. is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $6.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 125,000 employees. Sodexho serves more than 10 million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexho, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a subsidiary of Sodexho Alliance (NYSE:SDX)(http://www.sodexho.com/). Sodexho, Inc. funds the Sodexho Foundation (http://www.helpstophunger.org/), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $9.2 million in grants to fight hunger in America. DATASOURCE: Sodexho CONTACT: Anthony Owens of Sodexho, +1-301-987-4795, +1-240-246-5753, Web site: http://www.sodexho.com/ http://www.helpstophunger.org/

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