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OCTOBER 2, 2007 / Legacy Project / – Young people across the country can listen to the life stories of older adults in their family and community to learn and win. As part of the Legacy Project's national Listen to a Life Contest, young people have a chance to learn about real life from real people, and they can give another person the greatest gift of all – a feeling that their life matters. The contest's new Grand Prize includes a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer and $25,000 of Orchard Software. Twenty runner-up prizes mean more young people will receive recognition.
The Legacy Project, a national education initiative at www.legacyproject.org, also offers free online life interview tips and questions, and Across Generations activities, including downloadable family tree charts and
a Generations Scrapbook children, parents, and grandparents can fill in together.
"We live according to the stories around us," says Legacy Project Chair Susan Bosak. "Part of what it means to be human is to tell and listen to stories. When older adults share the real stories of their life, and young people listen, it can mean a lot to both generations."
The theme of the contest has been inspired by Bosak's award-winning book Dream: A Tale of Wonder,
Wisdom & Wishes. It combines richly-detailed illustrations from 15 top children's illustrators, including two-time Caldecott Medal winners Leo and Diane Dillon, with a poetic story about hopes and dreams across a lifetime that inspires both children and adults. The book has won
11 national awards including an iParenting Award and a Teachers' Choice.
To enter the contest, young people 8-18 years interview a grandparent or grandfriend 50 years or older about the older person's hopes and goals through their life, how they achieved their goals and overcame obstacles, or how dreams may have changed along the way. The young person then writes a 300-word essay based on the interview.
The Grand Prize is a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer, and $800 in Orchard software and an iPod Classic with video from Orchard Software. The school of the winning young person also receives $25,000 worth of Orchard educational software. Twenty runner-up prizes include $400 in Orchard software and an iPod Shuffle from Orchard Software. All winners receive a framed award certificate and a specially autographed copy of the Dream book.
The Listen to a Life Contest deadline is March 31, 2008. Entries can be submitted online on the Legacy Project website www.legacyproject.org. If an entry is faxed or mailed instead, it must be TYPEWRITTEN and RECEIVED by March 31, 2008. It must include the total number of words in the entry (must be 300 words or less), entrant's first and last name and age, co-entrant's first and last name and age, relationship of entrants (i.e. grandchild/grandparent or young friend/grandfriend), entrant's telephone number (with area code), complete mailing address, and e-mail address (if available). Entries can be faxed to (905) 640-2922 or mailed to Listen to a Life Contest, c/o Generations United, 1331 H Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005.
Dream by Susan V. Bosak (TCP Press, $17.95) is available in bookstores. For more information, the free online activities and complete contest rules, visit www.legacyproject.org or call 1-800-772-7765.
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