A pizza mission to U.S. military service members in
Afghanistan has made the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest pizza
delivery.
Pizza 4 Patriots, a 501(c)3 registered non-profit based in
Illinois, has been sending pizzas to military service members abroad for the
last five years.
Last summer, Pizza 4 Patriots and shipping company DHL
organized their biggest delivery yet: 30,000 pizzas to service members in
Kandahar, Bagram and Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in celebration of Independence
Day. The delivery began June 21, 2012. DHL donated its services (pictured
above) and loaded the pizza shipments at a service center in Chicago.
Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express U.S., said he was grateful to
Pizza 4 Patriots and proud of DHL's "dedicated employees."
"Feedback from U.S. troops who received the care
packages has been heartwarming as they truly appreciate the recognition for
their valuable service," Clough said in a statement.
Mark Evans, the retired Air Force master sergeant who
started Pizza 4 Patriots, said he has been working with Guinness since last
summer for the record. After the necessary affidavits from witnesses were on
record, Guinness officially recognized the delivery in April and notified Evans
this month.
Evans said he is "completely pleased and
overwhelmed."
"The world record is secondary to taking care of our
soldiers and sending them a slice of home," Evans said.
The 12-inch pizzas were made by Great Kitchens, Inc. in
Illinois with some donated ingredients and funded by various donors.
Earlier this year, Pizza 4 Patriots sent 21,000 pizzas to
military members serving abroad during the Super Bowl. Next up, Evans has a
goal of raising enough money to send 25,000 pizzas to troops across the world
for this Independence Day.
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