A Ladner restaurant is helping storyteller Laura Thomas boost the budget for her new short story contest.

Taverna Gorgona owner Franco Lafakis has agreed to host a fundraising dinner in February for Thomas.

Children's literacy is a good cause, he said.

"Because I'm a new entrepreneur in the Ladner area, I felt I had a responsibility to help out," said Lafakis, who bought the Greek restaurant about a year ago.

The three-course dinner will be followed by a storytelling performance from Thomas and local comedian Billy Mitchell. Neil Diamond tribute artist Bobby Bruce will also be singing.

The short story contest is called Water in Words. Delta students in grades 4 through 12 have until Feb. 15 to submit a short story in prose or verse with a watery theme of no more than 1,000 words.

The top 12 writers will work with Thomas to transform their written stories to the oral form and then present them at a free public event at Genesis Theatre on March 20.

Thomas said she wouldn't be able to hold the event at Genesis without the restaurant's help.

The fundraising dinner is set for Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at Taverna Gorgona in Ladner. Tickets cost $100 and are available by calling the restaurant at 604-946-9111.

For more details visit www.agentstory.net.