Not many days go by that I don’t question my parenting ability. I remember the 2008 Sodexo Foundation dinner where I heard the amazing stories of many young people who worked tirelessly to eliminate hunger in their communities. Hannah Yoxall was one of those young people, a 9 year old in fact, who had collected over 1,500 pounds of food for the Shenandoah Valley Food Bank. I remember leaving the dinner with great respect for the kids and for the parents who encouraged their commitment to serve. And I remember thinking (again) this was yet another area I was lacking as a parent!
It wasn’t that I didn’t try to instill a charitable spirit in my kids. My family celebrates both Hanukah and Christmas making December a nonstop “present-palooza.” Each year, I would suggest that my girls donate some of the gifts to families in need to which they would respond with a traumatic, emotional melt down. “OK, maybe next year,” I would say.
Being a responsible corporate citizen is at the core of Sodexo's business. We set the benchmark in areas such as sustainability, diversity and inclusion, wellness, and the fight against hunger with “The Better Tomorrow Plan”. It was this commitment that exposed me to stories like that of Hannah Yoxall and our Heroes of Everyday Life. It was this commitment that encouraged me and my family to do more in our own community.
This year, my youngest daughter celebrated her 10th birthday and requested that her friends donate to our local animal shelter instead of giving presents. The shelter received $110, food and toys for the animals they care for. My oldest daughter will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah in June and as part of her preparation, chose to collect donations of personal hygiene supplies for runaway and homeless young people helped by the Bridge Over Troubled Waters program of Boston. They may not reach the impact of the Stop Hunger Scholarship Winners, but they have made a difference to something that was important to them. And of course, I can feel a little better about being a parent that encouraged them!
I thought I was being asked a favor, when in fact I was being given one."
- Mitch Albom
It’s hard to describe the feeling that you get when you are able to help someone in need. What had been my own shame of inaction turned into inspiration from Hannah and the Sodexo Foundation and was now energized by the actions of my own children. It is clearly MY TURN.
This Sunday, I will participate in the Run to Home Base, a 9K run that starts and ends at the historic home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park. The run will honor our nation’s heroic veterans and help raise funds to serve those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury.
It’s been more than 20 years since I last participated in an event like this. “Flat foot” and “pigeon toed” since my first steps, I am not what anyone would consider a runner. But run I will - inspired and cheered on in my head by the veterans who will benefit from the race; by the friends, family and Sodexo colleagues who have donated on my behalf; by the Sodexo Foundation, all of the Stop Hunger Scholarship Winners and Heroes of Everyday Life; and by two little girls that might one day call me a good dad.
----------------
Anthony Scarpino is a Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Sodexo. In this role, Anthony leads recruitment teams that focus on sourcing, attracting and recruiting facilities management engineers and top talent from the United States armed forces. Anthony directs the implementation of Sodexo's employment branding including the use of Social Media properties and Web 2.0 tools. Prior to joining talent acquisition, Anthony managed unit food service operations in Sodexo's healthcare division. He is a registered dietitian and past president of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association. Anthony invites you to connect with him on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook.
3 comments:
Very timely and inspiring. I'm sure you did a great job yesterday!
Thanks for the post helping people goes along way.
Congrats on doing a great job as a parent and in the community. I would say YES, your employer has helped you be a better parent. It is nice to hear that the 2008 Sodexo Foundation dinner made a difference in your life and now you and your family are making a difference in the lives of many others. That is awesome!
Post a Comment