Pizza Hut celebrates 40th Book It! anniversary with free personal pan pizzas

(TMX/Gray News) - Pizza Hut is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its BOOK IT! program by giving away 1 million free personal pan pizzas to readers of all ages during National Book Month in October.

Since 1984, Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! program has rewarded children in pre-K through sixth grade who reach their reading goals with an estimated 1.5 billion free Personal Pan Pizzas.

Pizza Hut gave away more than 56 million personal pan pizzas in just the last decade.

The program is the longest-running corporate-supported reading initiative in the U.S., with a mission “to cultivate a deep, personal connection with reading.”

In recent years, the program has modernized along with the educational landscape, offering digital reading logs and virtual classrooms to make it easier for schools and families to participate.

Now, Pizza Hut is extending the offer to readers of all ages with a limited-time offer of a free Personal Pan Pizza with any $8 minimum purchase.

“I’m incredibly proud of what the BOOK IT! program has achieved over the past four decades,” said Pizza Hut U.S. President Carl Loredo.

“It’s inspired more than 70 million children to discover the magic of books, helping to build a lifelong love of reading. As we’re celebrating 40 years, we’re excited to invite readers of all ages to rediscover the joy of reading — one book (and pizza) at a time.”

BOOK IT! is a free program, and parents and teachers can sign up on behalf of their students at www.bookitprogram.com.

Since 2019, Pizza Hut has also partnered with the nonprofit First Book to offer discounted and free books to educators who serve kids in Title 1 schools, impacting more than 391,000 children.

For National Book Month beginning on Oct. 1, customers can use the code “BOOKIT40” at checkout online or on the app to receive a free personal pan pizza with any minimum $8 purchase at participating locations. The code will be valid through Oct. 30, or until 1 million free personal pan pizzas are redeemed.

Fans can also order the BOOK IT! Bundle, which includes two large one-topping pizzas and breadsticks, online and on the Pizza Hut app. A portion of the proceeds from every BOOK IT! Bundle sold will go to support the BOOK IT! program.

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