Little Ceasar’s Supports the Troops

In the interest of posting information about businesses, people, and entities that support the troops and veterans of military service, I am going to re-post an e-mail I received earlier.  I didn’t know such a program existed, but it sounds like an excellent way to open you own business (assuming making pizza is your business).  Anyway, I’ll let the e-mail and website speak for themselves as professionals are a lot better at getting their point across than I am.

Little Ceasar’s Veteran’s Program

To provide honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition to civilian life or seek a career change, and thank them for the sacrifices they and their families made for our country

I’ll be honest, the letter smacks of marketing, and I hate marketing pitches, but because its related to Veteran / Troop Support I decided to go ahead and post it.  Take a look at it, someone you know might be looking for just this opportunity. The bulk of the letter is after the jump.

Hi,

I was wondering if you could help me out a little. I am helping my friend
gain awareness for the Little Caesar’s Veterans Program that helps
military men and women successfully transition to civilian life, as well as
create opportunities for those who seek new careers.

With Veteran’s Day coming up we really wanted to get as much coverage
about this story as possible. (The program hit its one-year anniversary
recently.) Currently the story is being picked up by a lot of mainstream
media outlets but I personally think that blogs can help get the story out
there to the people we really want to reach, people serving in the Armed
Forces, Veterans, and their families. I feel that your blog reaches those
types of people so I am coming to you asking for help.

[...]

Thanks for your time.

For more information about the program:

http://franchise.littlecaesars.com/VeteransProgram/tabid/76/Default.aspx

[..]

According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a non-partisan
advocacy group:

*The jobless rate among its 100,000 members is in the double digits. (With
no sign of relief, says its executive director.)

*And, notes the Department of Labor, only 82 percent of disabled Iraq and
Afghanistan vets are active jobholders or job seekers compared with 91
percent of veterans without a disability.

In 2004, Army Staff Sergeant Robbie Doughty, then 29, of Paducah, KY, lost
both of his legs in an Iraqi roadside bomb explosion. While his injuries
ordinarily require a two-year stay, he insisted on leaving Walter Reed Army
Medical Center after five months. Once discharged, Robbie began exploring
his options with the local Paducah Police Force and as a substitute teacher.
He says, though, he had long dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur. (Of
special note, Robbie was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal and the
Meritorious Service Medal.)

As veterans, like Robbie, struggle to find an economic foothold, how can
fellow Americans and American businesses help them?

Robbie actually served as the inspiration for an innovative business
program for military veterans, founded by Mike Ilitch, the owner of the 2006
American League Champion Detroit Red Wings, 10-time Stanley Cup Champion
Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars.

The Little Caesars Veterans Program was created by Mike to thank military
men and women for their patriotism and the sacrifices they and their
families have made for our country. The program offers qualified honorably
discharged, service-disabled veterans a substantial benefit of up to $68,000
and a $10,000 benefit for all honorably discharged non-service-disabled
veterans towards the start-up costs of opening their own franchises. The
program helps military men and women successfully transition to civilian
life, as well as create opportunities for those who seek new careers. (And,
as sources of start-up capital are harder and harder to find during this
economic crisis, this innovative solution is more vital than ever.)

So Robbie along with his good friend and former colleague, Army Chief
Warrant Office Lloyd Allard, opened the first-ever veteran-owned Little
Caesars in Paducah.

To date, an additional 15 veterans have become franchise owners under the
veterans program.

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