Boston, MA JLL and ezCater are joining forces with Feeding America to expand CaterCares, a program created in the city in 2016 to help end childhood hunger. CaterCares converts a percentage of online catering sales to cash donations that provide food for children and families in need. The program has already funded more than 100,000 meals. The collaboration with Feeding America provides the scale needed to take the program nationwide and make an even bigger impact.
Lori Mabardi, JLL east region senior vice president of research, pioneered the concept in Boston and presented it to JLL leadership, who immediately grasped its potential.
“JLL turned my ambitious idea into reality and empowered us all to make a meaningful difference in our community,” said Mabardi.
“My personal ambition has always been to go big in the area of childhood hunger and mobilize corporate America behind our nation’s children. It’s been an honor to work with our leadership to turn an idea into action – and watch our clients and colleagues so enthusiastically jump at the opportunity to make a difference.”
“JLL is tremendously proud to support CaterCares,” said JLL New England Market managing director Jim Tierney. “The alignment of Lori’s imagination, JLL’s commitment to the communities we serve, and terrific partners has led to astounding early success in addressing the scourge of childhood hunger. We are even more excited about the opportunity to have greater impact in the future as more of our clients embrace this innovative and cost-free program.”
CaterCares combines the power of JLL, which manages 180 million s/f of U.S. office space, with the reach of ezCater’s online ordering platform, which connects businesspeople nationwide with more than 60,000 restaurants and caterers.
“The national collaboration between JLL, ezCater, and now Feeding America, attacks hunger everywhere it exists,” said Stefania Mallett, co-founder and CEO at ezCater. “The combined strengths of our three dramatically different firms has led to something remarkable. We’re proud to be part of CaterCares, and hope many other companies use it to fight hunger in their own communities.”
More than 41 million people in the United States face hunger, including 13 million children. Using CaterCares, a typical $250 catering order provides 113 meals that are distributed locally through Feeding America’s nationwide network of over 200 food banks. In Greater Boston, which has been responsible for nearly 50 percent of the 100,000 meals generated to date, all donations benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank.
“Childhood hunger is an issue that affects every single county in the country. We are excited to work with JLL and ezCater through their CaterCares program to create awareness with their customers around the issue of hunger while helping families in need,” said Nancy Curby, senior vice president, corporate partnerships & operations at Feeding America. “We are grateful to partner with a program that is working to find creative ways to raise awareness and give back.”
Boston-based Acadian Asset Management, which specializes in active global and international equity strategies, was one of the first companies to join CaterCares when it launched in late 2016. Since then, it has been one of its most active users, having placed hundreds of orders and having contributed several thousand meals.
“Acadian has always worked to partner with organizations in the greater Boston area to give people the resources to change their lives for the better,” said Mayuri Patel, office/facilities coordinator at Acadian Asset Management. “Participating in the CaterCares program has been effortless…giving us access to a larger group of restaurants as well as streamlining our billing process. As a company that orders catering almost every day, knowing that we are also helping to feed the children of Boston makes every order impactful.”
JLL is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $145 billion. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000. As of June 30, 2017, LaSalle Investment Management had $59.0 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.
ezCater is the only nationwide marketplace for business catering. ezCater’s online ordering, on-time ratings and reviews, and award-winning, 5-star customer service connect businesspeople to reliable catering for any meeting, anywhere in the United States.
Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Unites States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger.
