Cancer Research Fundraising Efforts

Olive Garden’s local Pasta for Pennies program will be taking place in the following counties: Pennsylvania Counties: Allegheny, Blair, Butler, Centre, Erie and Westmoreland KIDS COLLECT COINS TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia students kick-off Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies program benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society PITTSBURGH – More than 60,000 students throughout western Pennsylvania and West Virginia soon will share more than their “two cents” as they collect spare change to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) School & Youth campaign during Olive Garden’s 16th-annual Pasta for Pennies program. Last year, Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies collected $5.3 million nationally, bringing the total amount donated since the program’s inception to more than $47 million. Students in first- through 12th-grade from more than 135 schools will participate in Pasta for Pennies by donating their pocket change to fill collection jars in their classrooms during a three-week period in the school year. Local Olive Garden restaurant teams proudly reward the top fundraising class in each participating school with a pasta party. “We are grateful to the many students, teachers and parents who helped us raise more than $157,600 through Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies last year,” said Tina Massari, executive director for the LLS Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia Chapter. “It is through their hard work and generous donations that we continue to advance our goal of curing blood cancers.” Local Olive Garden restaurants will host kick-off lunches for representatives from schools participating in Pasta for Pennies. Olive Garden also provides marketing support and materials for 45 participating LLS chapters nationally. “Our nation’s young people can accomplish great things as evidenced by the students who pledge their time and spare change in support of our Pasta for Pennies program each year,” said Dave Pickens, Olive Garden president. “We are proud of their dedication to our program and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and look forward to another successful fundraising 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.