Why Sean Hyslop Served On Our Board

When I heard about Giving Kitchen in early 2016 - how the organization was born to help people in the hospitality industry - I immediately thought, “I want to be a part of that.” The ability to support those who support our industry has become a powerful motivator for myself and my team at Sysco.

The servers, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, hosts - they have all inspired me. The unexpected happens to everyone, and there are so many stories about GK stepping in to keep a bad situation from getting worse or to be that little push that moves things in the right direction again.

I believe strongly in “lifting people up.” It’s the most human thing we can do to be there when someone needs help, from the shoulder to cry on to friendship to financial assistance. Everyone needs help now and then. We don’t always have the resources to get over an unexpected event in our lives, leading us down an even tougher road. If GK can step in to assist food service workers so that tougher road isn’t traveled, the community as a whole benefits. I feel blessed to be a part of that, to pay it forward in hopes that others will do the same. We should all have a goal to add value to our human capital.

When I think about the happiest times of my life, they usually happened around food. We celebrate marriages, anniversaries and birthdays by bringing people together in restaurants or catering halls. Who helped you celebrate those events? The people working in those hospitality venues, that’s who. Why wouldn’t we support those who support us during the times we most enjoy?