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Mara Frazier
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Olive Garden kicks off 14th-annual Pasta for Pennies program benefiting
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2008) – It’s as easy as tossing a coin into a collection jar.  That’s what two million students in 3,500 elementary, middle and high schools across the country will do on their way to collecting millions of dollars for Olive Garden’s 14th-annual Pasta for Pennies program benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) School & Youthsm campaign.  Last year, students collected a record $5.2 million in spare change for Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies, bringing the total funds raised since its inception to more than $36 million. 

During a three-week period in the school year, students deposit spare change in collection jars in their classrooms.  The money raised through these student contributions funds research and supports services for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma patients.  Olive Garden rewards the class in each school that raises the most money with a pasta party delivered and served by their local restaurant team. 

“The continued support of Olive Garden restaurants and the students, parents, teachers and school administrators throughout the country allows us to expand our research programs and provide services to patients and their families,” said Dwayne Howell, president and CEO of LLS.  “We admire the efforts of these young people and with their involvement we will be closer to reaching our goal of finding a cure for those suffering from blood cancers.”
In addition to serving a pasta party at each school, Olive Garden also hosts kick-off lunches in the restaurant for representatives of participating schools and provides marketing support and materials for more than 44 participating LLS chapters nationally.

“Pasta for Pennies encourages young people to get involved in their communities and rally around a cause that touches the lives of so many.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to work together as a team to achieve a goal and to learn about serving others,” Olive Garden President Dave Pickens said.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.  The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $550 million for research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  Last year alone, LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals through services provided at its home office and by its 68 chapters in the United States and Canada.  For more information about the Society, visit www.LLS.org.

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with 628 restaurants, more than 78,000 employees and $2.8 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI), the world’s largest casual dining company in sales and market share.  For more information, visit Olive Garden’s Web site at www.olivegarden.com.

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