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JOE TORRY'S "GIVING BACK THE LOVE" FOUNDATION IS OFFERING SAVINGS BONDS TO AREA STUDENTS THROUGH ESSAY CONTEST SPONSORED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE

ST. LOUIS (April 23, 2003) - The Joe Torry "Giving Back the Love" Foundation, a local charity that encourages and supports the success of children in the St. Louis region, is holding an essay contest for middle and high school students with prizes including $50 - $500 U.S. Savings Bonds. Students can enter the "Dream Through Me" Essay Contest by submitting a 300 - 500 word essay highlighting their dreams, goals, aspirations and why they believe goal setting is key to success. State Farm Insurance Co., Inc sponsors the contest.

Three winners will be chosen in each of the two categories: Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12). Entries will be judged based on originality, style and content and must be postmarked by June 6, 2003. In addition to a U.S. Savings Bond, each winner will receive souvenirs and tickets to the Joe Torry Celebrity Basketball Challenge to be held at Savvis Center on July 12, 2003. An entry form may be obtained by contacting the Joe Torry "Giving Back the Love" Foundation at 314-963-7111. Winners will be selected and notified by June 16, 2003.

The Joe Torry Celebrity Basketball Challenge brings a variety of celebrities from professional sports, motion picture and television stars, and music entertainers. The celebrities join with St. Louis native and nationally known actor/comedian Joe Torry for a weekend of hoops and hope for area children. Ticket sale proceeds from the event help support a variety of programs for area youth such as the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club and the Foundation's annual "Back to School Supplies Give Away" program, which has benefited more than 10,000 students in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Since its founding on Christmas Day 1996, the non-profit Joe Torry "Giving Back the Love" Foundation has donated all of its net profits to individual families and organizations within the metropolitan St. Louis community. The Foundation's mission is to provide assistance for the educational, emotional, cultural and social needs of underprivileged children and families in the region and create a vision of hope for area youth. This vision of action and hope reflects the beliefs of actor, comedian and St. Louis native Joe Torry and his commitment to making a difference in his hometown community.

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