Job Genius helps students create, improve, and publish résumés – and identify job matches via best-fit technology

Monte Sereno, CA- April 13, 2010– Veechi Corp. — developers of the “Veechi Classes” Facebook application — today released Job Genius™, the first cloud tool to help college students create a professional résumé with input from invited members of their Facebook circle.

Job Genius guides students through their résumé with directions and suggestions for completion. It automatically transfers relevant information from a student’s Facebook profile to the résumé. The student can invite any member of his or her social circle to comment on the résumé, and then accept or ignore any edits. The completed résumé can be downloaded as a PDF file to be printed or posted at job sites.

Many college students have never created a résumé and few are experienced résumé writers, so students often omit information important to employers. With Job Genius’ directed suggestions, students include the most relevant information. With social editing, peers and mentors can help make an adequate resume outstanding and with Job Genius’ automated formatting, the resulting résumé is professional in every respect.

In addition to creating the resume, Job Genius searches major job sites, presents the student with currently available positions that match his or her background, and allows the student to identify opportunities from within his Facebook group. The National Association of Colleges and Employers projects that hiring for the Class of 2010 will be seven percent (7%) below 2009. Major employers are scaling back on-campus recruiting efforts and college career centers are facing increasing constraints as university budgets are slashed. In this difficult environment, Job Genius produces a better résumé and identifies well-suited opportunities.

“Job Genius was perfect,” said Sean McMahon, a student at UC Berkeley. “It automatically filled in part of my résumé, and then reminded me to include some things that I would have forgotten. I invited five friends and one professor to help me with it, and three people did. It turned my résumé information into a great looking PDF file that I can upload to job sites, and it showed me some jobs from those sites.”

Human resource professionals and career counselors are also pleased with the performance and functionality of Job Genius. “We’re struck by the poor résumé quality of otherwise highly qualified students,” said Heather Laing, Manager of College Recruiting for VMware. “Students frequently forget to include very relevant information that only gets noted during an interview, if at all. Many students in the US get passed over due to an inadequate résumé, students who would otherwise earn an interview and possibly a job. Job Genius addresses the core issues that plague student résumés.”

Santina Pitcher, Employer Relations Coordinator and Career Counselor at California State University – East Bay, said “Our students are well prepared when they graduate, but typically don’t know the best way to market their best skills in this competitive job market. Veechi Job Genius helps a student stand out with a résumé that best highlights their strengths, giving them the competitive edge.”

Job Genius is available today at http://www.veechi.com/jobgenius at no cost to students who enroll in 2010.

Veechi Classes, the popular and free Facebook application for college student success, connects directly to Job Genius and is available at http://www.facebook.com/veechi.

About Veechi Corp.
Veechi Corp., a venture capital backed Silicon Valley firm, is the “college success platform™,” helping students “conquer” college with a socially-powered productivity platform. Veechi Classes has been called one of “10 Facebook apps that teach you something” by CNET. Veechi was named a finalist in the fbFund competition run by Accel Partners and Founders Fund that identified the Top 50 Facebook applications. For more information, visit www.veechi.com.

“Veni. . . Vidi. . .Veechi” – “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

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Contact Information:
Veechi Corp.
Monte Sereno, CA 95030
Peter Levy, CEO
peter@veechi.com
Or
Bob Citelli
rcitelli@cintara.com
408 399 9771

For Immediate Release April 12, 2010

Contact: Yisel Cabrera
Director of Programs & Operations

(202) 347-8280

Summer Madrid Program Aims to Provide Global Leadership Experience for American Students from Diverse Backgrounds

WASHINGTON, DC – The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) and PromoMadrid invite qualified students who are currently in their last year of their undergraduate or studying a Post Graduate Program in an accredited four year University, from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, to apply for the 2010 CHLI-Madrid Program: Gateway to Madrid Summer Internship Program.

Seven to ten students from diverse backgrounds will be selected to become part of this intensive six-week summer internship program in Madrid, Spain. Successful interns will first participate in a one week immersion course that will focus on Spanish culture, economy, and politics which will then be followed by a five week placement with a sponsoring Madrid-based company. The CHLI-Madrid Program aims to provide a unique and enriching practical work experience for bilingual American student leaders in one of Europe’s main economic hubs, the Regional Community of Madrid.

This initiative is financially backed by PromoMadrid and managed by CHLI, who will be responsible for all aspects related to the students’ internship, training, housing & travel while living in Madrid.

The application deadline is Monday, May 3, 2010. The program begins June 14 and ends July 30, 2010. Applications can be downloaded from the CHLI website at www.chli.org.

To apply, applicants must:
• Be U.S. citizens, bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Have a valid U.S. Passport.
• Be enrolled in an accredited four year college/university.
• Submit a completed application form, personal statement in English and Spanish, curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation and official transcripts.

Compensation:
• Airfare and housing accommodations in Madrid, Spain.
• Stipend for living expenses
• Health insurance

For more information please contact Yisel Cabrera, Director of Programs and Operations, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute at ycabrera@chli.org or at 202-347-8280 Ext. 303.

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About CHLI:
The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI, pronounced “chili”) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C., that advances the diversity of thought in U.S. Hispanic community in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as in the international community. For more information, please visit www.chli.org. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About PromoMadrid:
PromoMadrid, Desarrollo Internacional de Madrid, S.A. is a regional government-owned company, incorporated in 2004 with the purpose of promoting and developing the Region of Madrid internationally from an economic perspective. PromoMadrid acts under the authority of the Madrid Regional Ministry of Economy and Finance Affairs. Visit www.promomadrid.com.

ARLINGTON, VA, April 12, 2010 - Freshman year. Final exams. Life after graduation. The pressures of college transitions involve many competing demands, including in some cases, mental health concerns.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched StrengthofUs.org, a new online community where young adults, ages 18-25, can provide mutual support in navigating challenges and opportunities before, during and after the college years.

“Young adulthood is an exciting challenge, but also a confusing and stressful time for anyone,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, NAMI executive director. “Life can throw things at you fast.”

Developed by college students and other young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where a person can connect with peers, share personal stories, creativity and helpful resources by writing and responding to blog entries, engaging in discussion groups and sharing videos, photos and other news.  It offers resources on:

• Mental health issues
• Healthy relationships
• Family and friends
• Campus life
• Independent living
• Finances
• Employment
• Housing

“StrengthofUs.org is about helping and inspiring each other,” said Alex White, age 23, a member of the advisory group who helped develop the site. “I would not be alive today if it had not been for the love, care and support I received from family, friends and loved ones.”

A Montana State University graduate, White was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 13. He attempted suicide before gaining control of the illness, but now leads a happy, productive life in New York City. He has made an award-winning short film, Une Vignette de Melancolie, about depression that has played internationally.

On April 21, the site will host a “launch party” featuring a remix of the song “Goodmorning” from the upcoming Derivatives album by William Fitzsimmons, who worked helping people with mental illness before turning a passion for music into his profession. He was named an iTunes Best Singer-Songwriter for his album The Sparrow and the Crow and his music has been featured on the television show Grey’s Anatomy.

The launch coincides with the recent deaths of three students from suicides at Cornell University and reports of increasing cases of depression and anxiety on college campuses nationwide.

“I think that depression and suicide are the largest health issues facing college students at this time,” said Alan Glass, director of St..Louis’s Washington University student health services and American College Health Association board member, in an interview with the school’s independent student newspaper.

NAMI created the StrengthofUs community through the support of the Rodwell Dart Memorial Foundation, established by Hailey Dart, in loving memory of her son, Roddy, who lost his life at age 22.

About NAMI

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1100 state and local affiliates that engage in research, education, support and advocacy.

Contact

Christine Armstrong

christinea@nami.org

(703) 312-7893

www.nami.org

www.twitter.com/namicommunicate

www.facebook.com/officialNAMI

www.strengthofus.org

Hyperlocal Online Classifieds Site Wants to Save Thousands of Abandoned Couches Lining City, Town and Campus Streets Each Spring During Moving Exodus

NAPERVILLE, Ill.—April 12, 2010— A sad and disturbing crisis that ravages cities and towns across America is about to strike again: Couch Abandonment. Each spring and early summer during the moving exodus from campuses and cities, the phenomenon occurs nationwide. Thousands of abandoned couches line sidewalks and pile up forgotten around dumpsters, waiting to end up in land fills. In an effort to stop Couch Abandonment, AmericanListed.com, a free, hyperlocal online classifieds site, is launching a contest for college students and anyone who is moving to share their story of why their couches deserve to be saved and have a chance at a new life. Check out the Couch Abandonment Contest video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcksdAWj9TA.

Simple and easy rules for the contest:

• To enter, applicants must submit either a video (no more than two minutes) or a written testimonial with a photo (no more than 250 words) explaining why their beloved couches deserve to be saved from abandonment. Videos and testimonials will be posted on AmericanListed.com each week.
• During the first few weeks of the contest, AmericanListed.com will award a weekly prize of an iPod to a contest winner. The grand prize winner will win a new couch to take home to their new living space.

To enter the contest or check out posted applicant videos and testimonials, please visit www.AmericanListed.com or http://couch.americanlisted.com. Also follow AmericanListed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/americanlisted for contest updates.

“With Couch Abandonment a major concern in cities across America from Boston to San Francisco and towns from State College to College Station, AmericanListed.com is dedicated to putting a stop to the crisis and giving these couches the chance for a new home and life,” said Thomas Westling, president of AmericanListed.com. “AmericanListed.com offers college students and all movers an easy, safe and family-friendly place to post their old couches and other unwanted items online for sale, as well as look for new items to purchase or exchange. We hope Americans will join us in our effort to end Couch Abandonment.”

About AmericanListed
AmericanListed, founded in 2007, is a free online classified advertisements website that provides U.S. residents with a simple and safe way to sell and buy products and services within their own residential area/city. The site’s local reach offers users the ability to list and search classified ads in all states, all cities and all zip codes in the United States.

Contacts:
Paul DiPerna or Scott Love
Schwartz Communications
781-684-0770
americanlisted@schwartz-pr.com

New Grad Filter to Provide Relevant Jobs to Recent Graduates

Mountain View, CA – April 6, 2010 – Simply Hired, the largest job search engine and recruitment advertising network, today announced the launch of its newest specialty filter for “New Graduate” jobs. This filter is designed to serve the thousands of expected college graduates entering today’s competitive workforce.

SimplyHired.com announces the New Graduate job filter just in time for students to begin their job search before graduation. This filter will allow job seekers, specifically recent graduates with limited to no work experience, to view jobs nationwide relevant to their experience level. It will offer recent grads an easy way to filter through the three million job listings on SimplyHired.com to find positions that are relevant to their majors and fit their skills.

“According to a SimplyHired.com poll, 78 percent of job seekers graduate without a job at the time of commencement, so we’re proud to aid new graduates in their job search with a relevant tool,” said Andrew Chen, Sr. Product Manager, Simply Hired. “Entry level jobs are out there; new graduates just need help finding them.”

Along with the New Graduate filter, Simply Hired also offers a “Share” feature which enables job seekers to share jobs through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and email. By socializing job search, users can easily and quickly network and share jobs with their community, as well as receive referrals and find unknown connections.

The New Graduate filter further strengthens Simply Hired’s mission to personalize job search by giving recent graduate job seekers a comprehensive view of all the jobs available in an easy and efficient manner.

About Simply Hired
With more than five million job listings worldwide, Simply Hired is the world’s largest job search engine and recruitment advertising network. The company powers jobs on over 10,000 network partner sites such as LinkedIn, Plaxo, CNNMoney, BusinessWeek and The Washington Post. It operates global sites in 19 countries and ten languages on five continents. Simply Hired has been lauded as one of the “50 Coolest Websites” by Time magazine, a “Top 100 Website” by PC Magazine and the “Best of the Web” by BusinessWeek. Simply Hired has raised $22.3 million in funding from venture and individual investors including Foundation Capital, IDG Ventures and News Corporation. The company is privately held and is based in Mountain View, California.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today offered a tax tip to college students and first-time filers: use IRS Free File to prepare and file their federal tax return. This and other suggestions can help new tax filers avoid the April 15 rush and maybe even get any refund due within 10 days.

Filing a federal return may seem like a daunting task for a first-time filer but it is made much easier with tax software such as Free File, a service offered by the IRS and private-sector partners that allows everyone to prepare and electronically file their federal tax return for free.

New taxpayers can check out Free File at www.irs.gov/freefile where they can review about 20 software options. Each participating tax preparation software company sets its own eligibility but anyone making $57,000 or less can find at least one option. The software follows an easy-to-use format that asks questions and completes the appropriate tax form based on answers.

An online tool, Help Me Find a Free File Company, will help identify those companies that match the taxpayer’s criteria. Want to know more? There’s a new how-to video available at www.freefile.irs.gov. Also, each Free File software company has links to the 20 states that offer their versions of Free File.

There are two formats to federal Free File: Traditional Free File, which is the step-by-step software offered by participating companies, and Free File Fillable Forms, which is the electronic version of IRS paper forms that do simple math. There is no income limitation for Free File Fillable Forms but it is the best option for people comfortable doing their own tax return. Either format is free and allows for free electronic filing.

Other suggestions:

• Check with your parents: Depending upon the circumstances, they may still be eligible to claim you as a dependent. Your parents can claim you or you can claim yourself, but not both. So, talk over your taxes before you start.
• File a return: If you had federal taxes withheld from your paycheck in 2009, you should file a tax return – even if you are not required. There’s a good chance you could get a refund.
• Use Direct Deposit: When you combine direct deposit with e-file you can get your refund in as few as 10 days.
• Gather records: Employees will receive a Form W-2, a statement for your income and taxes withheld. You still must report all your income, including tips. Remember, all income is taxable unless exempted by Congress. By the way, good recordkeeping throughout the year makes this whole tax preparation process a lot easier. See Taxable Income for Students.
• Grants, scholarships and fellowships: Amounts spent on room and board may be taxable while the money spent for tuition, books and fees may be exempt. ROTC allowances are not taxable, but ROTC active duty payments are taxable. See Tax Information for Students.
• Expanded education credits: The new American Opportunity Credit provides a maximum $2,500 credit for tuition, books and fees. Heads up: If your parents claim you as a dependent, they get to take the credit. Otherwise, you get to take the credit in most cases. For details, see Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
• Only the person who made the tuition expenditure can claim this credit. So, if your parents are footing your bill, they get to claim the credit.
• Recovery Tax Credits: In addition to education credits, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided new benefits for homebuyers, energy upgrades, new vehicle owners and workers through the Making Work Pay Tax Credit. See www.irs.gov/recovery for more details.
• Earned Income Tax Credit: If you’re 25 or older, you may be eligible even if you have no children. See www.irs.gov/eitc for details.
• Save a little; spend a little: Another new provision this year lets you also use your refund to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds.

Have more questions? Visit www.irs.gov and check out 1040 Central, a one-stop stop for your tax needs. The IRS Web site has answers to frequently asked questions, tax tips and you can even track your refund.  And remember, you must go through IRS.gov to be eligible for Free File offerings.

One last suggestion: Don’t wait until April 15. There is no need to cram or panic. You should just take your time, use Free File and do it right. Help is available if you need it.

Editors: Need more information? Contact your local IRS spokesperson for more details. Click here to embed an April 15 tax count-down widget.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Rebecca Rasch, (202) 572-3365, rrasch@edf.org

Encouraging Students to Take a Stand for their Clean Energy Future

WASHINGTON, DC (April 5, 2010) – Today Environmental Defense Action Fund begins sharing its mic with college students.  For the next eight weeks EDAF is asking students from across the country to create short video clips calling on Congress to pass strong climate and clean energy legislation.

EDAF is reaching out to campus green leaders and club presidents across the country, from the University of Alaska Anchorage to University of South Florida, to encourage participation. EDAF will award grants of up to $3,000 to the environmental club that collects the most video submissions.  EDAF welcomes submissions from any student group from any university.

“College students around the country are eager to show Congress how much they support clean energy, and EDAF is happy to help,” said Challenge Director Rebecca Rasch. “After all, it’s their future that hangs in the balance.”

For more details, please visit TakeAStand (www.edf.org/takeastand), where you can view a sample video and enter the challenge. To interact with the participating groups or see campaign updates, like which group is pulling ahead or entered the challenge, become a fan of our Take A Stand Campus Video Challenge fan page on Facebook.

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About Environmental Defense Action Fund

Environmental Defense Action Fund is the lobbying arm of the Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.edf.org

CHICAGO, IL March 29, 2010 – WilliamPaid, an online resource for renters and roommates, launched recently bringing relief to the 102 million Americans who live in apartments, condominiums, and other rental units. The comprehensive new website for renters and roommates provides flexible rent payments, the ability to build personal credit with rent payments and a cash-back program with a matching contribution toward student loan and rent payments.

“With WilliamPaid, powerful renter and roommate tools are just a click away,” said WilliamPaid CEO Evan Silverman. “For many, rent is a sensitive topic due to financial issues and roommate disagreements. WilliamPaid complements existing social media platforms to offer a hyperpersonal roommate relationship experience. We provide flexible payment options to relieve financial strain as well as a medium for roommates to communicate about and monitor rent payments without face-to-face conflicts or ‘text message stress.’ In the end, it is a win-win for everyone – landlords get paid on time, and roommates avoid needless drama.”

Communication and busy schedules, Silverman said, are big obstacles for roommates and rent. “I live with three other roommates, and our biggest challenge has been getting our rent in on time. It is difficult for us to be on the same page,” said Ingrid Perez, 19, from Suffolk University.

To address these types of issues, according to Silverman, WilliamPaid (www.williampaid.com) provides flexible rent payment options that let each roommate pay rent how each person chooses – bank account, credit or debit card or any combination – but yet provides a collective payment to the landlord. “With WilliamPaid, each roommate can see who has paid – and, more importantly, who hasn’t. It’s a non-confrontational way of dealing with the rent while also providing the flexibility that each roommate may need,” said Silverman.

WilliamPaid also helps renters build credit with their rent payments. “As the only rent payment service that reports rent payments to a credit bureau, tenants can build credit without going into debt – something renters struggle with,” Silverman added.

Matthew Vitko, SVP of Sales for PRBC, Inc., a credit bureau and division of MicroBilt Corporation, agrees. “Traditionally, apartment renting comes with a disadvantage,” he said. “Unlike mortgage payments, timely rent payments do not improve your credit rating. WilliamPaid helps renters build a positive payment history by providing them with the option to report monthly rent payments to a nationally-recognized credit bureau. If you are currently an apartment renter and you want to establish a positive payment history, WilliamPaid is a good option.”

The WilliamPaid Cash-back Program provides cash-back to its users who shop online and refer friends to the service, with a 10% matching contribution when users apply their cash-back to their rent or student loans. According to Silverman, WilliamPaid will also be rolling out a cash-back program for rental payments.

For more information about WilliamPaid or to schedule an interview with a member of WilliamPaid’s executive team, contact Evan Silverman, 847.510.6444.

Renters and roommates are invited to visit William Paid’s BLOG, YouTube Channel, Twitter Page, and Facebook Fan Page for more tips and resources.

About WilliamPaid
WilliamPaid is an online resource for renters and roommates, providing flexible rent payment options, including paying rent with a credit or debit card, credit building services such as having rent payments and past rent and utility payments reported to a credit bureau, shared bill management, allocation and tracking and other roommate tools that help renters and roommates communicate. WilliamPaid is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. Learn more: www.williampaid.com.
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Ethisphere Institute Recognizes Companies That Raise the Bar for Ethical Standards

GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 22, 2010 – Sodexo was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2010 by the Ethisphere Institute. This is the second consecutive year the company has been named to the coveted list, which recognizes firms based on their commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

Sodexo is a leader in providing comprehensive service solutions worldwide, and is one of the world’s leading employers, with core businesses in foodservice, facilities management and senior services.

Ethisphere, a think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, will publish the listing of the World’s Most Ethical companies in Ethisphere Magazine’s Q1 issue. Ethisphere reviewed thousands of nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries in order to determine the winners of the coveted ranking. This is the fourth year Ethisphere has published the rankings.

“Acting in accordance with high ethical standards is one of the ways Sodexo secures and maintains business relationships and attracts and retains employees,” said George Chavel, president and CEO of Sodexo North America and COO of Sodexo Group. “Sodexo voluntarily meets the highest standards of social responsibility and sustainability. We strive for transparency in our business dealings and have instituted rigorous internal controls to drive our ethical principles throughout the organization. We are pleased to be named again as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.”

Chavel added that Sodexo treats its employees with dignity, respect and equality, and supports and encourages them to shape their own future and grow with the company. “By living the Sodexo values and ethical principles, and actively fostering diversity and inclusion, our people make Sodexo a company of the future,” he said.

To read more about company employees’ success and experiences with Sodexo, visit SodexoCommunity.com. Sodexo actively reinforces its commitment to maintain the highest ethical standards in several ways, including:

• The company has a Business Abuse Hotline that provides employees at every level the opportunity to report legal, ethical, or safety concerns anonymously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• New management employees attend orientation where ethical conduct is emphasized as a core value.
• Executives, senior leaders, and new managers are required to take interactive online ethics training through the company’s own Sodexo University.
• All employees are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with uncompromising ethical standards. The company displays Business Integrity posters at all accounts and offices to reinforce this expectation every day.
• Sodexo requires all of its manufacturers to adhere to the company’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which addresses respect for people, the environment, and business integrity. Sodexo is committed to these principles and asks the same from its business partners.

Sodexo also recently introduced its Better Tomorrow Plan, the company’s global promise for sustainability and its roadmap for sustainability over the next 10 years. The Better Tomorrow Plan includes 14 commitments with measurable targets that the company will work toward achieving.

The methodology for the World’s Most Ethical ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers. Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2010 World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/wme-2010.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), a member of Sodexo Group, is a leading provider of Comprehensive Service Solutions serving more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care, retirement, schools, higher education, government and remote sites. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Sodexo, Inc. operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. The Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org) is an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $12.7 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2009)

Sodexo in the World
14.7 billion euro consolidated revenue
380,000 employees
33,900 sites
50 million consumers served daily
80 countries
22nd largest employer worldwide

Sodexo in North America
7.7 billion dollars revenue
120,000 employees
10 million consumers served daily (on-site consumers and motivation beneficiaries as a single number)
6,000 clients
700 facilities management sites

Contact
Jaya K. Bohlmann
301 987 4415
jaya.bohlmann@sodexo.com

Contacts:

Melissa Siciliano, Weber Shandwick:  312/988-2069,  msiciliano@webershandwick.com

Basil Maglaris, Kraft: 847/646-4538, news@kraft.com

Gail Dent, NCAA: 317/917-6117, gdent@ncaa.org

Jen Sabatelle, CBS Sports: 212/975-4120,  jsabatelle@cbs.com

Major Snack Brands Named Official “Cracker,” “Nut” and “Cookie” of all 88 NCAA Championships

EAST HANOVER, N.J. (March 11, 2010) – Kraft Foods’ U.S. Snacks business announced today it has teamed with the NCAA and CBS Sports to become an Official NCAA Corporate Partner for several of its flagship snack brands including Planters, Ritz, Oreo and Wheat Thins.  The partnership includes promotional and marketing rights for the NCAA and all 88 of its men’s and women’s championships.

As part of the agreement, the brands will be featured as the NCAA’s “official” Cookie, Nut and Cracker partners through in-store promotions and with a major advertising buy on CBS Sports starting in March with the Network’s exclusive coverage of the “Road to the Final Four®.”

“This partnership is a slam dunk for Kraft Foods,” said Stephen Chriss, Senior Director, Marketing Alliances at Kraft Foods.  “It gives us an opportunity to connect our delicious snack brands with key audiences in a big way.”

Throughout the partnership, NCAA and CBS Sports fans can expect to see Kraft Foods snack brands sharing a large presence before, during and after NCAA championships events.  Planned marketing initiatives include new product sampling, contests, promotions, and college-themed displays in retail stores.

“Having Kraft Foods on board as part of the NCAA team is a win for everyone involved,” said Peter Davis, NCAA Director of Corporate Alliances.  “Associating with well-known brands like Planters, Oreo, Ritz and Wheat Thins helps increase awareness and build excitement for all of our NCAA sports and the fans who support our student-athletes and championships.”

“We are thrilled to have Kraft Foods join the NCAA Corporate marketing family at CBS Sports,” said Chris Simko, Senior Vice President CBS Sports Sales and Marketing & Director CBS Sports Properties Group.  “This is exactly the kind of integrated promotional partnership that has become synonymous with CBS Sports’ NCAA corporate marketing program.”

The initial sampling effort during March Madness will feature Wheat Thins snacks and two of the company’s newest snack products:  Ritz Munchables pretzel crisps and Planters Flavor Grove almonds and cashews.  In addition, people can follow Mr. Peanut’s Road to the 2010 NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis by becoming fans of Mr. Peanut on Facebook.  Beginning March 12, Mr. Peanut fans on Facebook can enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2011 NCAA Final Four.  Visit www.facebook.com/mrpeanut for more information.

Big Brands, Big Stages
In the last five years, Kraft Foods has embarked on several strategic, high profile sports marketing initiatives including NASCAR and the U.S. Open to raise the profile of its flagship snacks brands.  In fact, the company announced in January 2010 that Oreo and Ritz are the official cookie and cracker of NASCAR, in addition to its sponsorship of Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman.

“Showcasing our big brands on big stages takes our marketing and merchandising to new heights, providing perfect venues to elevate our equities, reach new audiences and promote new products in unique ways,” says Chriss.

Oreo has worked with A-list athletes Eli Manning and Peyton Manning and Venus and Serena Williams for its Oreo Double Stuf Racing League campaign, and enlisted sports analyst and former football star Tiki Barber for its recent Ritz “Tailgate” advertisement.

About Kraft Foods
The combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury creates a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals.  With annual revenues of approximately $50 billion, the combined company is the world’s second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in more than 160 countries.  The combined company’s portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion – Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gums; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats.  Another 70+ brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million.  Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor’s 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.

About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.  The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions—AT&T and Coca-Cola—and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners—Enterprise, The Hartford, Hershey’s, LG, Lowe’s, Kraft Foods and State Farm.

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