Olive Garden's Ninth Annual Pasta Tales Writing Contest

Teaching Pre K-8, Nov/Dec 2004

With the 2004 presidential election taking place this month, Olive Garden has chosen a timely question for its ninth annual Pasta Tales national writing contest for kids: "What do you like most about living in the United States and why?" Olive Garden will accept essays of 50-250 words that answer that question from young writers in first through twelfth grade.

Essays will be accepted up to December 3, 2004 and should include the writer's name, full address, area code and phone number, grade, date of birth including the year and a statement that the work is their own.

The grand prize is a trip to New York City, dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square and a $2,500 U.S. Savings Bond. A winner will also be chosen in each grade category and will receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and dinner with their family at their local Olive Garden restaurant. Pasta Tales entry forms and complete rules will be available at local Olive Garden restaurants or by logging on to www.olivegarden.com/ourcom munity/pastatales Entries must be either submitted online or postmarked by December 3, 2004 and sent to Pasta Tales, PMB 2000, 6278 North Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308-1916. Submissions are judged by the Quill and Scroll Society of the University of Iowa based on creativity, adherence to theme, organization, grammar, punctuation and spelling.