Sixth annual event surpasses $10 million raised and honors changemakers advancing the fight against childhood hunger
BETHESDA, Md. (June 5, 2026) — The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation successfully hosted the sixth annual Sodexo Charity Classic presented by PepsiCo from June 3–5, 2026, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This milestone event celebrated 30 years of the Stop Hunger mission—a legacy that coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States—and brought together partners, clients and changemakers under this year’s theme: “Mission Unstoppable.”
During the three-day event, the Sodexo Charity Classic surpassed $10 million raised since its inception, reinforcing its role as a powerful platform for advancing solutions to end childhood hunger.
“As we celebrate 30 years of the Stop Hunger mission, this moment is both a reflection and a call to action,” said Joan McGlockton, President and Chair of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. “The Sodexo Charity Classic continues to demonstrate the power of collective impact—bringing together partners, employees and communities to drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Recognizing leaders driving change in the fight against hunger
A highlight of the Sodexo Charity Classic was the recognition of the 2026 Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholars and Sodexo Heroes of Everyday Life®, individuals advancing community-based solutions to address food insecurity across the country.
Five students and six Sodexo employees were awarded $5,000 grants to continue advancing their hunger-fighting work in communities across the United States. The five student recipients also received a $10,000 educational scholarship to support their continued academic journeys. Top award recipients were honored during the Sodexo Charity Classic, continuing a long-standing tradition of celebrating impactful changemakers at the Foundation’s annual fundraising event.
The 2026 Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholars included:
- Jack Swartley (MobilePantry, Columbus, Ohio / Doylestown, Penn.), founder of a tech-enabled food rescue platform connecting surplus food from retailers to families in need through coordinated community distribution
- John Marshall (Families4Families, Chevy Chase, Md.), co-founder of a student-led movement that has helped deliver more than 1.5 million meals through youth-driven food rescue and distribution efforts
- Lola Beach (YouthWorks, Tulsa, Okla.), a youth leader supporting an innovative mobile food distribution program expanding access to fresh food in underserved communities
- Ethan Hill (Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessings, Birmingham, Ala.), founder of a grassroots initiative providing essential supplies and meals while mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to support individuals experiencing hunger
- Parin Chanana (Plates to Purpose, Southlake, Texas), co-founder of a nonprofit transforming surplus food into meals, helping redistribute more than 150,000 meals through a growing network of community partners
Together, these young changemakers represent the next generation of leaders working to build more equitable and sustainable food systems.
Click here to view a video highlighting the 2026 Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholars.
The Foundation also honored six Sodexo Heroes of Everyday Life®, recognizing employees who are making a meaningful difference in the fight against hunger in their communities:
- Kyle Berry (Sous Chef, Minnesota State University, Mankato – Mankato, Minn.), is a sous chef who believes food is meant to be shared with dignity. He volunteers extensively with ECHO Food Shelf, helping unload deliveries, prepare orders and engage directly with neighbors in need.
- Pat Clelland (District Manager II, Gonzaga University – Spokane, Wash.), has spent decades advancing food recovery, sustainable farming and campus hunger programs. Through partnerships with Gonzaga University, he helps ensure students never have to choose between hunger and education.
- John Casto (General Manager, Corporate Services, Broadcom, Inc. at Arrowswest – Colorado Springs, Colo.), draws on his lived experience to support hunger relief, veterans and mentorship efforts. Through years of volunteerism and community engagement, he continues to give back and uplift others across Colorado Springs.
- Maria Martinez Duncan (Senior Area General Manager, Corporate Services – Sun City, Calif.), has led Stand Down events for more than 14 years, supporting veterans experiencing homelessness. She mobilizes volunteers to provide meals, resources and dignity while inspiring others through her leadership and service.
- Haley Hitzing (Senior Marketing Manager, Sodexo Live! – Denver, Colo.), leads Taste! Central Florida, a major hunger-relief event raising millions for families facing food insecurity. Through volunteer leadership and innovation, she has expanded community engagement and impact.
- Johanna Johnson-Gilman (General Manager, Healthcare, Torrance Memorial Medical Center – Torrance, Calif.), combines food recovery, food drives and workforce partnerships to address hunger and its root causes. Her work supports individuals and families while creating pathways to employment.
Click here to view a video highlighting the 2026 Sodexo Heroes of Everyday Life®.
Giving back to Colorado Springs
In alignment with the Foundation’s belief that “where we show up, we give back,” this year’s Charity Classic directly supported the Colorado Springs community through hands-on engagement and local investment.
- During event registration, all attendees participated in assembling 1,000 snack bags for Food to Power, a Colorado Springs nonprofit advancing food access and equity
- The Foundation also made an additional $5,000 contribution to Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, a local Colorado Springs organization connected to one of this year’s Heroes of Everyday Life® honorees.
“This year’s ‘Mission Unstoppable’ theme truly came to life through both celebration and service,” said Roxanne Moore, Executive Director of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. “From hands-on support with our Colorado Springs partners to honoring the incredible work of our Scholars and Heroes, every moment reinforced our commitment to ensuring that no child goes hungry. Surpassing $10 million raised is an incredible milestone—but more importantly, it’s a reflection of the lives changed through this work.”
“The support we received through the Sodexo Charity Classic goes far beyond a single moment of service—it reflects a company truly living its values through action,” said Natalia Avila, Food Access Manager of Food to Power. “This partnership brings both immediate relief and long-term hope to the people we serve and we’re grateful to see such a genuine commitment to making a difference.”
A powerful model of partnership and purpose
“The Sodexo Charity Classic reflects the strength of our partnerships and what we can accomplish when we align business with purpose,” said Dave Kourie, Head of North America Supply Management, Sodexo. “Our supplier community continues to show up in powerful ways and we’re proud to support the Stop Hunger Foundation as the beneficiary of this event. Together, we are creating real, measurable impact for communities facing food insecurity—and that’s something we can all stand behind and be proud of.”
Building on an unstoppable mission
Since its founding, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has remained dedicated to ending childhood hunger by supporting immediate relief efforts while investing in long-term, community-driven solutions. Funds raised through the Sodexo Charity Classic support critical programs, including summer meals initiatives, K–12 backpack programs, campus food pantries and partnerships with local hunger-relief organizations nationwide—ensuring children and families have access to nutritious food year-round. With the passion of its partners and the leadership of its honorees, the Foundation continues to advance its mission to help ensure that no child goes hungry.
About the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation is an independent charitable organization with a mission to fight against hunger and food insecurity. Building on 30 years of leadership, in collaboration with volunteers, NGO partners, donors and the unique ecosystem of its founding partner, Sodexo, the Foundation is scaling up innovative hunger-fighting solutions. These solutions are poised to have a broader and deeper impact on ending hunger in the most vulnerable communities. Visit Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s Linktree to connect to their social media channels and follow their impactful work throughout the year.
About Sodexo North America
Sodexo North America is a division of Sodexo Group, a global leader in food and services shaping better everyday experiences at every moment in life: work, heal, learn and play. Operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, Sodexo North America is committed to meeting the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and to contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices.