More than 2,000 community members, representing more than 60 Baton Rouge area companies, will give back to the children of the community through their participation in Junior Achievement's 21st Annual Bowl-A-Thon Feb. 19, Feb. 26 and March 5, 2005, at Don Carter's All Star Lanes.

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Since Mardi Gras falls so early this year, our theme for the event will be Mardi Gras Etcetera! You can second line your way to Don Carter's and extend the festivities just a little longer through the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon. This event is a great opportunity to build camaraderie within your own company while having fun and raising dollars to expand the much-needed programs for personal financial literacy within our community. Bowling skill is not a prerequisite--just a desire to have a good time and help a worthwhile organization.

The goal is to raise more than $118,000 to fund expansion of the JA programs in area schools. Junior Achievement will pay the lane fees and equipment rental as a way of saying "Thanks" for making a difference in our children's lives.

Serving as chairman for the 21st Annual Bowl-A-Thon will be Dana L. Cossey, marketing manager, Gulf Region-United, for Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Bowl-A-Thon is a great way to get involved in the community and to help JA teach our children how the business world works. Lamar Outdoor Advertising received recognition as the firm with the largest amount of contributions for 2002 and 2003 and brought in more than $17,000 in 2004. Albemarle was runner-up last year, bringing in more than $11,500.

Bowlers generate their sponsorships on per-pin pledges or flat donations from family members, co-workers and friends. Outstanding pledge procurers have the opportunity to win fabulous prizes. For information on how your company can participate, contact Pud'n Waller, director of marketing, at the Junior Achievement office, 928-7008.

RELATED ARTICLE: "THANK YOU" to the 2004 Participating Companies:

Albemarle

AmSouth Bank*

Argosy Casino

Association of Government Accounts

Bank One

Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co.*

BellSouth

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana*

Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson

Cajun USA

Campus Federal Credit Union

Baton Rouge Mayor's Office

Clear Channel Radio

Commercial Properties

Cox Communications*

Crompton Corp.

DOW Chemical USA

EATEL Inc.

ExxonMobil Chemical Co.

ExxonMobil Plastics

Formosa Plastics Corp.

Fox 44 (WGMB, WVLA, WBRL & KZUP)

Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc.

GMFS LLC

Hancock Bank

Hibernia National Bank

HSLI (Hospital Services of La.)

International Piping Systems

Jacobs Engineering Group

Kean Miller

La. Dept of Motor Vehicles

La. Farm Bureau Insurance Co.

La. Office of Financial Institutions

Lamar Advertising Corp.

Louisiana Network

LUBA Workers' Corp.

MAPP Construction Inc.

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

Merrill Lynch

Michael Choate, CPA

Moran Printing Inc.

Morgan Stanley

Our Lady of the Lake RMC*

Rhodia Inc.

Rubicon

Shadow Broadcast Services

Sprint PCS*

Turner Industries LLC

Union National Life Insurance Co.

Vulcan Chemicals

Wright & Percy Insurance

*2004 Event Sponsors

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