The Screen Actors Guild Foundation introduces its first annual children’s writing contest, sponsored by Zimand Entertainment, to promote and encourage literacy amongst children in LA.
Children are urged to enter the contest — “Love Equals” — which runs through Dec. 31, culminating with a party next year for the winners, who will receive prizes and cash awards.
Children between the ages 6 and 11, within the public and private schools of greater Los Angeles, are invited to send letters, essays and poems expressing what “Love” means to them. Prizes will be given to 60 young authors, as well as their teachers and schools, and all the winning writing samples will be published in a book. Entries will be read by a team of professional writers and celebrity judges, including Jane Kazcmarek (“Malcolm in the Middle”), Masiela Lusha (“The George Lopez Show”), Rain Wilson (“The Office,” “Six Feet Under”), JoBeth Williams and K.J. Steinberg (writer and producer on ABC’s “The Nine”).
The SAG Foundation is looking to counter the youth illiteracy rate across America and plans to hold the writing contest on an annual basis.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.