The Big Soup Brings 1,500 Servings of Chicken Noodle Soup to Local Nonprofits
150 Gallons Prepared by Pasadena Convention Center and Sodexo Live! for annual event supporting underserved communities.
The Pasadena Convention Center and Sodexo Live!, the exclusive food and beverage provider, teamed up to fight hunger by hosting “The Big Soup” event on May 16, 2023. As part of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s ongoing mission to end hunger and support underserved communities, the culinary team prepared 1,500 servings of soup for local shelters and service providers.
“The Big Soup is an incredible event every year, allowing us to show our gratitude to the amazing nonprofit community in Pasadena who work tirelessly to aid those in need,” said Doug Finney, general manager of Sodexo Live! at the Pasadena Convention Center.
150 gallons of soup were delivered to local nonprofits, including Ronald McDonald House of Pasadena, Union Station Homeless Services, Walter Hoving Home Pasadena, Salvation Army San Gabriel, Impact Housing, St. Andrews Catholic Church, Union Rescue Mission, Noho Home Alliance, and Friends in Deed. The Pasadena Convention Center and Sodexo Live! filled 30 buckets with chicken noodle soup, prepared with chicken, onions, carrots, celery, roasted garlic cornstarch slurry, and egg noodles, along with fresh rosemary and thyme harvested from the Pasadena Convention Center culinary garden.
“We are proud to participate in the wonderful programs from Sodexo Live!” said Michael Ross, CEO of Pasadena Center Operating Company. “It’s an honor to support the people of Pasadena through the warmth and comfort of chicken soup as we continue to work towards lifting up the community experiencing times of need.”
The Pasadena Convention Center has played an integral role in the local community since 1973, drawing audiences from all over the world and stimulating the local economy. Along with Sodexo Live! the convention center gives back to the community by providing supportive services through year-round initiatives, including an ongoing program to donate surplus food, the GOALympics challenge that provided 100 cooked meals for local nonprofits, and the Union Station Homeless Services Thanksgiving Dinner in the Park event.
About Pasadena Convention Center
The Pasadena Convention Center is the premier meetings, entertainment, and events venue in the heart of Pasadena. The 130,000 sq. ft. venue accommodates meetings of all sizes with spacious exhibit halls, an expansive ballroom and over a dozen breakout rooms. The Pasadena Convention Center is proud to be a LEED Gold certified facility and is professionally managed by the Pasadena Center Operating Company. In recent years, the Pasadena Convention Center has averaged over 300 events and attracted over 350,000 attendees. For more information, visit www.pasadenacenter.com.
About Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! manages prestigious conference, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, we are strategic and responsible partners, committed to unlocking our customers’ full potential while favoring local communities. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, the Rugby World Cup and soon the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, the Hard Rock Stadium, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Prado Museum in Madrid and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Media Contact: Anna Yan, Communications Manager Visit Pasadena ayan@visitpasadena.com
