More than 500 soldiers will enjoy Little Caesars Pizza Kits to kick off the New Year
DETROIT, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — More than one hundred Little Caesars Pizza Kits were loaded on an aircraft today at Detroit Metro Airport headed for U.S. troops stationed in northern Iraq, helping to bring a favorite food to men and women serving our country overseas.
Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program partnered with L.S.S. Consulting, a Detroit area-based global security consulting firm and DHL Global Forwarding, part of the logistics division of DHL, the world’s leading express delivery and logistics provider — to coordinate the special shipment of the Pizza Kits to U.S. troops stationed in Taji, Iraq.
“We are proud to send the Pizza Kits to express our support to the men and women bravely serving our country overseas,” said Joan Rivard, Vice President of Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program. “We hope the Pizza Kits will provide the troops with a little slice of home as we enter the New Year.”
This activity follows Little Caesars’ November 9, 2006 announcement of the Little Caesars Veterans Program. It was created to provide qualified, honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity as Little Caesars franchisees when they transition to civilian life or seek a career change, and thank them for their service to our country.
The Little Caesars Pizza Kits project required significant logistical planning and coordination with First Calvary officials at Fort Hood, Texas and at Taji to ensure their safe delivery.
L.S.S. Consulting generously covered the cost of shipping and a special, 42-cubic-foot refrigerated shipping container to maintain the Pizza Kits’ freshness as they are transported to Iraq. The troops have access to cooking appliances to prepare the pizzas.
“What better way to honor our troops on the frontlines than to send an all-American favorite — Little Caesars Pizza Kits,” said Ned Timmons, president of L.S.S. Consulting. “It sends a great message to the men and women who will be away from home this year that we support them.”
Timmons and his wife Mary have a son currently stationed at Taji.
“We hope this shows the troops that we appreciate the sacrifices they and their families are making,” said Mary Timmons, also an executive at L.S.S. Consulting.
The Pizza Kits received a special send off this morning, with Little Caesar, one of the nation’s most recognizable mascots, joined by representatives from DHL Global Forwarding, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program and L.S.S. Consulting at the DHL Gateway facility at Detroit Metro Airport.
“We at DHL Global Forwarding are proud to be a part of this great expression of support for our dedicated military men and women serving in Iraq,” said Mick Sheldrake, Manager, Strategic Customers, USA Central Region, DHL Global Forwarding. “We will take great care to ensure the troops receive the Pizza Kits in a safe and timely manner.”
From Detroit, the pizza kits will be transferred at LaGuardia International Airport in New York to a DHL aircraft headed to Baghdad. Upon arrival in Iraq, the Pizza Kits will be delivered via convoy with special First Calvary protection to the military base for more than 500 troops to enjoy.
“The men and woman serving in Taji from the First Calvary of Fort Hood will be grateful for such a thoughtful gift,” said Sergeant Colby Hauser of the First Calvary at Fort Hood, Texas. “Pizza is one of those special treats so much a part of American life, the troops miss it more than we can express.”
More than 10,000 troops from the First Calvary of Fort Hood, Texas, including individuals from Michigan, have served at Taji located about 30 miles north of Baghdad.
Since its introduction in the Detroit area in 1997, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program has become a successful fundraiser for all types of non-profit organizations. Today, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program proudly helps raise millions of dollars for thousands of schools, churches, sports teams and non-profit organizations throughout the continental United States and Ontario, Canada.
Little Caesars Pizza Kits are delivered directly to schools and non-profit organizations from 15 distribution centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. and in Ontario, Canada.
