ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 31,
2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Students across the nation are once again
collecting spare change to support the 18th-annual Pasta for
Pennies program presented by Olive Garden and benefiting The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) School & Youth
campaign. Students donated a record $8.4 million during last year's Pasta for
Pennies, to bring the total amount collected since the program's
inception to more than $61
million.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091001/CL85245LOGO )
During a three-week period, students in first through 12th grade
at more than 7,100 schools will participate in Pasta for Pennies by
donating spare change collected in special jars in their
classrooms. The top fundraising class at each participating school
receives a pasta party from their local Olive Garden
restaurant.
"The money collected through Pasta for Pennies directly benefits
leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma patients and their families," said
LLS President and CEO John Walter.
"I know I speak on behalf of those patients and families when I say
that we appreciate the efforts of all the schools and students who
make a difference in the lives of so many."
To kick off local Pasta for Pennies campaigns, Olive Garden
restaurants around the country will host lunches for
representatives from participating schools.
"Pasta for Pennies continues to make a significant impact on
families in local communities by raising funds for cancer
research," said John Caron,
president of Olive Garden. "It is a credit to the students, parents
and teachers who are committed to making Pasta for Pennies
successful year after year."
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's
largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS
mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and
myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their
families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the
world and provides free information and support services.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout
the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or
contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572,
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ET.
Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining
segment with more than 750 restaurants, more than 88,000 employees
and more than $3 billion in annual
sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc.
(NYSE:DRI), the world's largest full-service restaurant operating
company. In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE "100 Best
Companies to Work For" list for the second year in a row and is the
only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the
list. Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the
lives of others in the local community. For more information, visit
www.olivegarden.com.
SOURCE Olive Garden