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Olive Garden’s 14th-annual Pasta for Pennies gets kids involved nationwide

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2008) – Students across the country turned pennies into millions during Olive Garden’s 14th-annual Pasta for Pennies program for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Two million students in 3,500 elementary, middle and high schools collected a record $5.8 million in spare change, the most ever in the program’s 14-year history, to support research and provide critical services to patients and their families.  Since its inception, Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies has contributed more than $42 million to LLS.

During a three-week period throughout the school year, students filled collection jars in their classrooms with pocket change.  The class collecting the most money at each school was awarded a pasta party delivered to their classroom by their local Olive Garden restaurant. 

“We are so proud of the enthusiasm and support these students passionately bring to the Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies program each year,” said Dave Pickens, company president.  “Their generous efforts continue to make a significant impact in their communities and a difference in the lives of families throughout the nation.”

This year, the leading Pasta for Pennies fundraising school in the nation was Princeton High School in Cincinnati collecting $46,161 for LLS.
Other top fundraising schools include:

1. Orange High School in Orange, Calif. which raised $34,000;
2. Downey High School in Downey, Calif. which raised $29,551; and
3. William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio which raised $15,410. 

The top fundraising LLS Chapter in the country was the Central Florida Chapter where 285 schools raised $450,000. 

“The $5.8 million raised by students, parents, teachers and school administrators through Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies will help us continue to make advances in the search for cures and provide  hope and support to patients and their families,” said John Walter, LLS president and CEO.  “Every year we are inspired by their outpouring of compassion and commitment to our mission and this year is no exception. Thanks to Olive Garden and all student participants for another great campaign.” 

Local LLS Chapters are currently recruiting schools in their areas to participate in the 2009 Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies program.  To learn more about how your school can take part in this grassroots effort, call (800) 955-4572 or visit www.LLS.org.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., 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 $600 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 653 restaurants, more than 80,000 employees and $3.1 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:DRI), the world’s largest full-service owned and operated restaurant company.  For more information, visit Olive Garden’s Web site at www.olivegarden.com.

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