[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 64 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING LITTLE CAESARS LOVE KITCHEN'S 30 YEARS OF MAKING A 
                               DIFFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2015

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
great Michigan family-owned company, Little Caesars Pizza, on a very 
special anniversary in that company's history and the two wonderful 
people who started and built that company, Mike and Marion Ilitch. 30 
years ago today, on April 30, 1985, Mike and Marion Ilitch started the 
Little Caesars Love Kitchen, which over the years has provided free 
meals to nearly three million homeless, hungry and displaced families. 
Since it provided its first free meal, the Little Caesars big-rig pizza 
kitchen on wheels has traveled to all 48 states in the continental U.S. 
providing fresh, hot pizza for the hungry, homeless, victims of natural 
disasters and terrorist attacks in more than 4,000 American cities.
  Mike and Marion Ilitch created the Love Kitchen as a way to 
demonstrate their deep commitment to helping those in need by giving 
back to the communities in which it does business. Meals from the Love 
Kitchen are completely free of charge for everyone served. Local Little 
Caesars franchise owners and company regional offices donate all the 
food and labor costs that allows the Love Kitchen to assist those in 
need. The commitment to helping those in need extends far beyond the 
Ilitch family and evidence of that fact is that an estimated 50,000 
Little Caesars franchise owners and employees have volunteered 
countless hours of their time over the years to support this program in 
their local communities. In addition to the local support and 
participation of franchisees, Little Caesars Enterprises contributes 
nationally and has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars per year 
to operate the program, including an investment of $350,000 in 2014 to 
launch a second Love Kitchen allowing them to double the number of 
people they can help.
  The Little Caesars Love Kitchen works with local shelters and 
community leaders across this nation every day to feed the hungry and 
homeless. When communities are struck by disasters, you can be nearly 
certain that the Love Kitchen will be rolling into town to provide 
relief to victims and rescue workers. Just a few of the many examples 
are that the Love Kitchen has fed families after devastating tornadoes 
in Oklahoma and Alabama, provided hot meals after Hurricane Sandy and 
Hurricane Katrina and helped feed rescue workers in the aftermath of 
the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and the bombing of the Alfred 
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
  I commend Little Caesars founders Mike and Marion Ilitch, their 
entire family, and the many Little Caesars workers and franchisees for 
their unwavering commitment to supporting and comforting those in 
communities across this nation at times of greatest need. I also want 
to applaud the leadership of the President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings 
Christopher Ilitch and Little Caesars President and CEO Dave Scrivano 
for their important work to continue Little Caesars legacy as an 
outstanding corporate citizen. I salute the Little Caesars Love Kitchen 
on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and thank everyone at Little 
Caesars for spreading love, kindness, and hope in so many communities 
across our great nation.

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