Dépêches

Non-Profit, DHL and Uno® Partner to Deliver a Slice of Home to U.S. Troops

Dépèche transmise le 26 mai 2009 par Business Wire

Non-Profit, DHL and Uno® Partner to Deliver a Slice of Home to U.S. Troops

PLANTATION, Fla. & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pizzas 4 Patriots, a non-profit organization, is teaming up withDHL, the world’s leading global express delivery and logistics company, and Uno Chicago Grill^®, the inventor of deep-dish pizza, to dish out up to 28,000 pizzas to U.S. servicemen and women throughout Iraq and Afghanistan in time for Independence Day, 2009.

Dubbed “Operation Pizza Surge,” the mission to show appreciation and bring reminders of home to the men and women in uniform overseas was conceived by Ret. Master Sergeant Mark Evans of Elk Grove Village, IL. In 2008, Evans’ 15-year-old son Kent asked if there was a way to deliver freshly-frozen Chicago-style pizzas to servicemen and women stationed throughout Iraq in time for July Fourth Independence Day Celebrations. The initial effort required 2,000 pizzas and was extremely well received. So much so, that with the support of DHL, Evans was able to ship over 2,000 pizzas for this year’s Super Bowl.

Now, Evans has a unique new challenge – how to get 28,000 perishable deep-dish pizzas delivered fresh to servicemen and women serving in extreme temperatures and in a hostile environment. To pull it off, Evans has once again teamed up with DHL to fill up an entire donated cargo jet with the ready-to-bake, deep-dish pizzas from Uno^®, which is celebrating sixty-five years since inventing Chicago’s original deep-dish pizza.

“DHL, which flies directly to many of the U.S. bases in Middle East, has been a wonderful partner since the beginning,” said Evans. “Time and again, DHL has graciously agreed to donate their shipping services to deliver a slice of home to our troops.”

Through the support of DHL, Operation Pizza Surge will be the world’s largest pizza party, according to the Guinness World Records. Thousands of pizzas, packaged in temperature-controlled containers, will be picked up at Uno’s facility in Brockton, MA and loaded onto trucks. DHL will fly the shipment from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York directly to the DHL hub in Bahrain. From there, DHL will work closely with the U.S. military to ensure the Pizzas are delivered fresh to bases throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.

“As a retired member of the military, I appreciate what it means to receive such a special care package like this, and I thank Uno and DHL for bringing reminders of home to our U.S. troops stationed thousands of miles away,” said Evans. “The reactions we have received from families, friends of the military and the troops themselves about this initiative have been heartwarming.”

DHL has been selected by the Department of Defense for service to numerous locations around the globe based on the extensive service capabilities and "first in market" approach provided in support of US servicemen and women. DHL was also the first international air express carrier to provide service to Iraq and Afghanistan, and operates the most extensive logistics service in the Middle East Region

“As the specialists in international shipping, DHL is honored to leverage its global network and transport this shipment to lift the spirits of our servicemen and women based in the Middle East,” said Adrian Watts, Managing Director U.S. Government Sales and Support for DHL Express. “Our partnership with Pizzas 4 Patriots is part of our ongoing efforts to support our troops, and honor our U.S. servicemen and women.”

"Uno is honored to be a part of Operation Pizza Surge," said Frank Guidara, CEO, Uno Chicago Grill, and Vietnam Veteran. "We have tried for years, without success, to send pizzas to our servicemen and women overseas. This partnership with Ret. MSgt Evans, DHL and Pizzas 4 Patriots will finally allow us to accomplish that, and we are excited and proud."

Additional information on the final DHL loading arrangements in the U.S. of the pizzas is available through Robert Mintz, DHL Corporate Communications, (425) 736-2667.

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 ArmedForces 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.

About Uno

Based in Boston, Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation includes more than 200 company-owned and franchised full-service Uno Chicago Grill units located in 29 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Honduras, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The company also operates a fast casual concept called Uno Dué Go®, a quick serve concept called Uno Express®, and a consumer foods division which supplies airlines, movie theaters, hotels, airports, travel plazas, schools and supermarkets with both frozen and refrigerated private-label foods and branded Uno products. For more information, visit www.Unos.com.

About DHL

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. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and 310,000 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 more than 54 billion euros in 2008.