More than 500 guests attended the black-tie dinner at The Dorchester Hotel in London, which is also the grand finale to the year’s Stop Hunger fundraising activities, a campaign that aims to tackle poor nutrition in local communities across the UK and Ireland.
Throughout the evening guests learnt how the money raised through the campaign promotes healthy lifestyles, provides food to those in need and supports charities such as FareShare, Providence Row and SSAFA.
Debbie White, chief executive, Sodexo UK & Ireland recognised a number employees for their efforts in supporting the campaign. Mike France received the Volunteer Award for his work with The Outward Bound Trust on the Sodexo Health and Wellbeing Challenge for schools in the Salford area.
Sodexo’s team from AstraZeneca Cheshire were awarded the Merit Award for their fundraising activities which included the Yorkshire three peaks challenge, bike rides, summer fetes and even eating bugs. The team also volunteered for FareShare’s annual food drive at their local Tesco.
The final award of the night, the Charity Champion Award, went to account manager James Nottage, who raised an incredible £90,000 for Stop Hunger last year through fundraising campaigns such as Challenge 1914. The challenge saw anyone who wanted to take part, work in teams to row, cycle, walk or run and cover 1,914 miles in one day across Sodexo Defence sites in the UK, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands.
The main event of the evening was the auction which raised an impressive £35,200 with prizes ranging from tickets to England vs. Australia at the Rugby World Cup, dinner cooked by Sodexo’s top culinary chefs at home for ten guests, and a VIP weekend for two in Paris.
White said: “Over the years, Stop Hunger has touched upon thousands of lives and will continue to make a difference. I’m delighted how much the Sodexo Foundation has flourished - both internationally and in the UK and Ireland.
“Thanks to hard work and support, we make it possible for hundreds of vulnerable people to get off the streets and enjoy a hot meal; give families on low income the chance to give their children the nutrition they need to grow into healthy adults; and give disadvantaged young people a better understanding of how they can live a healthier lifestyle.”