Nation's Governors Recognize Aramark for Exemplary Partnership with Indiana

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) honored ARAMARK Correctional Services with its annual Public-Private Partnership Award during the opening session of the 2013 NGA Winter Meeting on February 23. The award, in its seventh year, recognizes NGA Corporate Fellow companies that have partnered with a governor's office to implement a program or project that positively affects the state's citizens.

ARAMARK partnered with the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) and was nominated for its role in the IN2WORK program. ARAMARK provides food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to businesses around the world. The IN2WORK program empowers correctional professionals to increase public safety and reduce recidivism. As a result of the partnership, Indiana opted to apply a six month credit to an offender's sentence with the successful completion of the 18 month IN2WORK program.

"The partnership between the Indiana Department of Correction and ARAMARK Correctional Services provides a unique opportunity to make a difference for taxpayers and to change lives in a meaningful way," said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. "I am thrilled to honor this company for its innovative partnership in my state."

"ARAMARK is proud that our innovation and service expertise is helping the Indiana Department of Correction reduce recidivism and enhance public safety," said ARAMARK CEO and President Eric Foss. "We greatly value our partnership and are honored to receive this award."

ARAMARK's IN2WORK vocational training program has saved IDOC over $85 million since the program began 7 years ago. Graduates of this program recidivate at a lower rate of 7.7 percent compared to the IDOC system recidivism rate of 37 percent.

The NGA Corporate Fellows Program, celebrating its 25th year, promotes the exchange of information between the private sector and governors on emerging trends and factors affecting both business and state government.

For more information about the NGA Corporate Fellows Program, visit www.nga.org/cf. To listen to Governor Pence's speech about the award, visit http://media.nga.org/WM2013/WM13SatOpeningPlenaryFull.wmvv.

Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s, most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, visit www.nga.org.