Giant Pumpkin at Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland and Students Team up to ‘Carve’ Giant Pumpkin for Second Harvest

Nashville, Tenn.—( October 23, 2007 ) Gaylord Opryland® Resort & Convention Center teamed up with children from Project Reflect to decorate two 400-pound pumpkins that will eventually be turned into 400 pumpkin pies which will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

"Gaylord Opryland is committed to finding different and fun ways to give back to our community," said Arthur Keith, senior vice president and general manager of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. "We are thrilled to join forces with students for a unique event that will provide a treat for so many of our neighbors during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday."

Students were invited from Smithson Craighead Academy which is supported by Project Reflect. Project Reflect is a local organization that helps children who are at a high risk of school failure. The Great Pumpkin event began with a pumpkin-carving demonstration from Gaylord Opryland’s own Chef Dean Donnell. The group then received their own pumpkin to decorate.

"The 3rd and 4th graders of Project Reflect's Smithson Craighead Academy are excited to be a part of helping the Gaylord Chefs make pies for Second Harvest Food Bank. Smithson Craighead Academy's after-school program snacks are provided by Second Harvest, and this is an opportunity for the children to give back to them what they give to us," said Lynda Evjen, director of development.

The next stop for this giant gourd will be the Gaylord Opryland kitchen where a team of chefs will use the pumpkin to make more than 500 pumpkin pies to be sent to Second Harvest Food Bank.

"The phone call from Gaylord Opryland about the donation of the 500 pumpkin pies to Second Harvest was such great news!" said Marina Delgadillo Falzone, director of marketing and communications for the Second Harvest Food Banks of Middle Tennessee. "Many families go without during the holidays, and 500 pumpkin pies will put smiles on so many Middle Tennesseans in need."

ABOUT GAYLORD OPRYLAND NASHVILLE
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - the largest non-gaming in-hotel facility in the continental United States - is known for providing superior products and services to the meetings and convention industry. Winner of numerous prestigious awards including the coveted Gold Key Elite Award in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and Gold Platter Elite in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Gaylord Opryland Nashville is the flagship property of the Gaylord Hotels brand owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gaylordentertainment.com or www.gaylordopryland.com.

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Media Contacts:
Ann Dee McClane 615.458.2896 amcclane@gaylordhotels.com
Kim Keelor 615.458.2877 kkeelor@gaylordhotels.com
Rob Regg 615.458.2882 rregg@gaylordhotels.com

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