Airport retail and dining leader gives back to nonprofits through donations and volunteer hours.
ATLANTA – Paradies Lagardère remains committed to investing in the communities of the airports it serves. With its corporate headquarters based in Atlanta, the company supports many causes in its backyard. Almost a decade ago, the company decided to focus on nonprofits that support children and their families, the military and tackle food insecurity. In doing so, they work with programs such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, local food banks, elementary schools and more.
Once per quarter, employees at all levels – from hourly associates to executive leadership – collaborate to volunteer at Atlanta Community Food Bank. Each volunteer day provides thousands of meals for families in need. In addition to showing up to volunteer, Paradies Lagardère sponsors many causes including the City of Atlanta’s Pride Reception and the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Fund.
In June 2023, Paradies Lagardère adopted William M. Boyd Elementary School in Atlanta, supporting the students by donating school supplies, cheering them on as they walked into their first day of school, providing lunches for teachers and visiting classrooms to read to students. Members of the executive team are planning another visit in March.
Jeff Flowers, senior vice president of operations at Paradies Lagardère, has been on the Make-A-Wish Foundation board for eight years, serving this year as vice chair. The organization’s Georgia Chapter grants about 480 wishes each year including taking a child to the Super Bowl, Disney World or on a trip to Hawaii. “To see a true wish reveal is pretty magical,” Flowers says.
As a Platinum partner of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Paradies Lagardère sponsors one full wish each year and contributes funds to help 15 other wishes in Georgia. Over the course of its sponsorship, Paradies Lagardère has helped sponsor more than 75 wishes. Because travel dining and retail is the company’s specialty, it donates items that children can use while they are traveling and also will host the Make-A-Wish family at the airport by greeting the family at the gate, hosting them in a private room with snacks and games to help ease the stress of travel, and assisting them through the airport to start their adventure. Paradies Lagardère team members across the US and Canada also participate in the annual Walk for Wishes to raise money to grant wishes for children coping with serious medical conditions. Previously the company has had over 700 employees participate.
At the corporate level, Paradies Lagardère has developed the PEPS program to guide its social responsibility efforts. Standing for Planet, Ethics, People and Social, PEPS paves the way for a sustainable future through carbon footprint reduction, ethical business practices, an equitable and inclusive work environment and a commitment to community engagement. PEPS is a global program created by the company’s parent organization, Lagardère Travel Retail, which is based in Paris.
Each team also chooses its own designated charity and gets involved with other nonprofits on the local level. At the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Paradies Lagardère team members joined forces with the airport fire department to collect toys for Toys for Tots during the holidays. The Paradies Lagardère team at George Bush Intercontinental Airport supports the Housing, Entrepreneurship and Readiness Training (HEART) Program, a Houston-based nonprofit that creates structured employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Because we have a footprint in airports across North America, we can make a difference in the communities we serve through our partnerships,” says Gregg Paradies, CEO of Paradies Lagardère. “Our dedication to service goes beyond our employees and customers, and it is our responsibility to support our communities where we are able.”
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