Spare Change Adds Up to Record $8.4 Million for Cancer Research

ORLANDO, Fla., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Students across the country put in much more than their two cents this year to raise money for Olive Garden's Pasta for Pennies program benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  In fact, more than three million students at 6,520 elementary, middle and high schools collectively raised a record-breaking $8.4 million to support cancer research.  Thanks to their successful efforts, the funds raised for LLS through Olive Garden's Pasta for Pennies program over the past 17 years now total more than $61 million.

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Students in first through 12th grade participated in this year's program by filling collection jars and boxes in their classrooms with spare change over a three-week period during the school year.  The top fundraising class at each participating school received a pasta party from their local Olive Garden restaurant.

Every penny, nickel, dime and quarter raised helps fund blood cancer research and provides much needed services and support to leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma patients and their loved ones.

"This year's Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies success is proof that anyone, no matter their age, can become involved and make a difference in the lives of others," said John Caron, president of Olive Garden.  "All of us at Olive Garden commend the many students, parents, teachers and administrators who came together for this program and turned pocket change into millions of dollars for cancer research."

Leading the nation as the top Pasta for Pennies fundraising school for the second consecutive year, collecting $42,216.97, was Warren High School in Downey, Calif.

Other top fundraising schools include:

• William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio, which raised $27,936.54;
• Princeton High School in Cincinnati, which raised $21,040.04; and
• Orange High School in Orange, Calif., which raised $18,833.

The top fundraising LLS Chapter in the country was the South Central Texas Chapter, where 460 schools collected more than $860,000, the most ever raised by a single LLS Chapter in the history of Pasta for Pennies.

"We are grateful for the outpouring of generosity that made this year's Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies campaign a record-breaking success," said John Walter, LLS president and CEO.  "It's through the hard work of our student participants and partners like Olive Garden that we can collect the funds we need to work toward a cure to end blood cancers."

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer.  The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for 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 $3.3 billion in annual sales.  Olive Garden is a member of the Darden family of restaurants (NYSE: DRI), the world's largest company-owned and operated full-service restaurant company.  For more information, visit Olive Garden's website at www.olivegarden.com.

SOURCE Olive Garden

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