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30,000 Pizzas to Feed U.S. Troops in Afghanistan on Independence Day

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  • DHL and Pizzas 4 Patriots partner to send record breaking delivery
  • Every soldier in region to enjoy a slice of home

PLANTATION, FL and Chicago, IL: June 25, 2012 – Troops in Afghanistan will get a taste of home this Fourth of July as DHL Express, the world’s leading logistics company,  teams up with Pizzas 4 Patriots to ship the “world’s largest pizza party” – 30,000 pizza pies – to thousands of U.S. servicemen and women serving in the region.

DHL Express is donating the staff, infrastructure and technology of its global express delivery network to execute the mission. The DHL team will be packing and loading all 30,000 ready-to-bake, Chicago-style pizzas from Illinois-based Great Kitchens into DHL cargo jets and shipping them to the troops stationed at several military bases across Afghanistan.

Given the scorching hot summers in the Middle East, the International Specialists at DHL Express will work against the clock to ensure the perishable care package is received fresh and in perfect condition. This includes loading of the perishable pies onto direct U.S. flights to the Middle East, re-icing of shipments along the route and tracking the shipments every step of the way through DHL Quality Control Centers. The pizza delivery will be distributed to Camp Bastion, Bagram Airbase and Kandahar Airfield and then on to various Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan.

Since Pizzas 4 Patriots and DHL Express began working together more than four years ago, they have delivered over 100,000 pizza pies to troops stationed all over the world.

“This is an extremely personal mission for me as a retired member of the military,” said Ret. Master Sergeant Mark Evans, founder of Pizzas 4 Patriots. “I know firsthand how meaningful these packages are to the troops and am thankful to DHL Express for its continued support and commitment to helping us set another record this year.”

This year’s delivery is the largest in the program’s history and will feed over 80,000 servicemen and women currently serving in Afghanistan. “As the world’s leading service provider of international shipping, we take great pride in being able to deliver the comfort of home to our troops overseas who are dedicating their lives to protecting our freedoms,” said Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express U.S. “We are honored to be a part of this inspirational program and help spread some joy to regions beyond our own this Fourth of July.”

Pizzas 4 Patriots was initiated in 2008 by Evans and his 15-year-old son, Kent, while eating pizza and wondering if they could somehow deliver freshly-frozen Chicago-style pizzas to soldiers overseas. Not long after, Evans contacted General Petraeus who quickly granted permission to send over 2,000 pizzas to troops for the Fourth of July. 

Media Contact:

DHL Express U.S.

Robert Mintz

Phone: 1 425 368 2163

E-mail: Robert.mintz@dhl.com

DHL – The Logistics company for the world
DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of 53 billion euros in 2011.

About Pizzas 4 Patriots

Pizzas 4 Patriots is a non-profit organization with the mission of making a positive difference in the lives of our service men and women.  We proudly support those patriots presently serving, as well as our wounded Veterans.  It is our goal to provide our Armed Forces with unique gifts from home. We have been fortunate to receive donations, ranging from financial to products and services, from individuals, families, corporations, and other organizations, all wanting to show appreciation for the sacrifice of our brave troops.  Our goal is to bring a little bit of home to the troops, and show them that they are supported by the country and residents who enjoy the freedoms that they provide for us.  For more information on our programs, please visit: www.Pizzas4Patriots.com.