Press Release
November 22, 2016
JLL, ezCater Launch CaterCares to Help Fight Childhood Hunger
New corporate catering initiative debuts in Boston, will expand nationwide
BOSTON, November 22, 2016
Nearly one in six kids across the United States is at risk of going hungry every day. To make a difference in the fight against childhood hunger, JLL and ezCater have partnered on a bold initiative called CaterCares to donate funds raised through corporate catering orders to local food banks throughout the country. The Greater Boston Food Bank is the first recipient of these funds.
CaterCares combines the power of JLL, which manages 167 million square feet of U.S. office space, with the reach of ezCater’s online ordering platform, which connects businesspeople nationwide with more than 45,000 restaurants and caterers. Offered exclusively to tenants in JLL-managed properties, the formula is simple: tenants order meals for their offices or events through CaterCares, and in return they help to provide meals for children in need in their communities.
The program was born from both necessity and opportunity, according to JLL Senior Vice President of Research Lori Mabardi, creator of CaterCares. “My professional role as a researcher who analyzes the economy gives me insight into some of the financial imbalances that exist today,” said Mabardi. “Seeing how often our children are affected by these imbalances merged with my personal desire to protect them and led to the idea for CaterCares,” she added.
“Taking care of each other is the right thing to do. When JLL tenants order their corporate catering through CaterCares, those businesses can – automatically, and at no cost to them – also make a difference in their communities,” said Stefania Mallett, Co-founder and CEO at ezCater. “JLL tenants get access to ezCater’s great network of reliable local caterers, easy online ordering, and award-winning customer service – plus, they get the great feeling that comes from helping fight childhood hunger. How could you not do this?”
When participating tenants within JLL-managed properties order meals through CaterCares, they generate ezRewards points, which are immediately topped off with a match from JLL and ezCater. The ezRewards points are then donated, as equivalent cash, to local food banks. For The Greater Boston Food Bank, a typical $250 catering order placed through CaterCares provides a meal for 30 hungry children. Through a limited trial program, CaterCares has already generated funds to pay for more than 1,800 meals.
“Creative partnerships like CaterCares help raise awareness about hunger and bring much needed resources to help end hunger across eastern Massachusetts,” said Catherine D’Amato, President and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “We are grateful to JLL and ezCater for their commitment to helping children and families in need.”
JLL, with support from building owner Morgan Stanley, debuted the CaterCares program this fall in two of Boston’s most prestigious properties: One Post Office Square and Rowes Wharf. The program is currently expanding throughout the Greater Boston region and will soon roll out to JLL-managed properties nationwide.
“We are committed to leveraging our scale, which includes 870 office buildings under management, to bring this program to many more cities and food banks across the country,” said Dan Pufunt, JLL President of Property Management. “We look forward to bringing this deserving initiative to other cities and showing that property management goes beyond keeping the lights on to making life better for the people in our communities.”
For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit the firm’s U.S. media center Web page: http://bit.ly/18P2tkv
For more news on ezCater, visit: http://bit.ly/2fmEJNW
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with, as of December 31, 2015, revenue of $6.0 billion and fee revenue of $5.2 billion, more than 280 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 60,000. On behalf of its clients, the company provides management and real estate outsourcing services for a property portfolio of 4.0 billion square feet, or 372 million square meters, and completed $138 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2015. As of September 30, 2016, its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $59.7 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.
About ezCater
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. For more information or to place an order, visit www.ezcater.com.
Contact
Heather Filkins
+1 312 228 2139
Heather.Filkins@am.jll.com
Scott Sutton
+1 312 228 2863
Scott.Sutton@am.jll.com
Mike Reilly
fama PR for ezCater
+1 617 986 5008
ezCater@famapr.com