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Dining In to Win
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If you live in Montgomery County and you have dinner with your family between now and the end of October, you could be eligible for some fabulous prizes.
On Monday, 600 cities and communities across the country celebrated Family Day -- a national effort spearheaded by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University to highlight the importance of having dinner as a family.
It seems that American families have become so overbooked, overburdened and overwhelmed with modern life that family dinners a la Ozzie and Harriet have fallen by the wayside.
"Kids are overscheduled,'' said Joseph A. Califano Jr. , chairman and president of CASA and secretary of health, education and welfare in the Carter administration. "Parents are working. Life has gotten too fast."
Montgomery County is putting its own spin on the event by offering prizes to families that dine together and send proof -- a picture or a brief essay about the dinner.
Dorothy Moore , substance abuse prevention coordinator for Montgomery County's department of health and human services, said she wanted to encourage families to participate in the program. She and others persuaded businesses to donate free dinners and other prizes as incentives.
Families that can show they had dinner together can win dinner for four at Armand's Pizzeria and Grille, a $25 gift certificate to the Cheesecake Factory, tickets for four to Kings Dominion and other items.
In annual surveys, CASA researchers found that students who eat dinner with their families regularly are less likely to smoke, abuse alcohol or use drugs. This is the first year that Montgomery County officials have gotten involved by offering prizes.
Tracy Fox , who chairs the health committee for the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, said it's always important for parents to find ways to connect with their kids.
"Any opportunity parents have to engage their kids is important,'' Fox said. "The message is, engage with your kids however you can find time to do it.''
Entries should be sent to Family Meal Project, c/o Dorothy Moore, 2424 Reedie Drive, 2nd Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902. Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address if available. Winners will be randomly selected. Sponsors, companies or affiliates of the contest are not allowed to enter.
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