YOUNGSTOWN — AVI Foodsystems and the Payiavlas family have made a gift of $1 million to The Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign at Youngstown State University.

In recognition of this gift, the main dining area in Kilcawley will be recognized as “The Payiavlas Family Dining Commons.”

“We thank the entire Payiavlas family for their continued commitment to the Mahoning Valley and Youngstown State University and our students,” said YSU President Bill Johnson. “This gift by one of the Valley’s most prominent and generous families means that thousands of students will enjoy the benefits of an exceptional dining experience.”

AVI recently announced its new partnership with YSU to take over campus culinary and hospitality services.

“We are deeply honored to support Youngstown State University through this gift,” said Anthony Payiavlas, President and CEO of AVI Foodsystems. “As good citizens of our community, our family believes we have an obligation to support the causes that matter most — those that will significantly impact the quality of life in our community. The Kilcawley Campaign and YSU are, without a doubt, these types of causes.”

“A big part of student life includes the dining services provided across campus. It allows students to socialize with their friends and nourish themselves with healthy options,” said Kilcawley campaign chair Scott Schulick. “We are grateful that the Payiavlas Family and AVI will continue to feed the student experience.”

AVI Foodsystems is the largest independently owned and family-operated food service company in the nation, providing hospitality and food services in 49 states and Canada. AVI serves thousands of clients and millions of customers daily through contemporary cafes, innovative micro markets, state-of-the-art vending programs, healthcare patient dining and catering, concessions, and refreshment services.

The company’s beginnings trace back to 1960, when John Payiavlas, the son of a working-class Greek immigrant family, purchased a small, local vending company, Automatic Vendors. The company began with just a few vending machines as a side business to Payiavlas’ first business venture, the Village Cafe, a small bar and restaurant in downtown Warren. In the 1980s, the company evolved by venturing into additional types of food and hospitality services and expanded into new geographic markets, thus in 1988, changed its name to AVI Foodsystems.

John Payiavlas and his wife, Marisa, have two children, Patrice Payiavlas Kouvas and Anthony. John is founder and chairman of the board, while Patrice is vice chair and Anthony is president and chief executive officer.