Features Editor

March 27, 2000 10 PM

Perhaps it was too much for children to hope for but Troy Bank and Trust has confirmed that Easter Bunny "E.B." Esq. will take a break from his busy pre-Easter schedule and come hopping into this South Alabama town Friday.

Diana Lee, TB&T marketing director, said "E.B." notified the bank Monday that he will be in Troy from 1:30 until 5:30 p.m. Friday.

He will be all decked out in his Easter attire and he would like to invite children of all ages to stop by and visit with him. And, for crisp $5 bill, "E.B." will pose for a picture with them.

The photographs will be placed in a keepsake holder as proof that "Yes, Virginia, there is an Easter Bunny."

"This is the second year we have invited "E.B" to the bank during the Easter season," Lee said. "Last year, 60 children and a few adults had their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. We hope to have even more this year."

Lee said it is just a matter of preference what children wear to visit "E.B."

"Some of them came dressed in their Easter clothes and some came in tee shirts and jeans," she said. "It really doesn’t matter. ‘E.B.’ just wants the children to come and share this time with him."

All proceeds from the photo session with "E.B." will benefit the March of Dimes.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

For 60 years, the March of Dimes has worked to improve the health of America’s children. Founded by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to defeat polio, the Foundation accomplished this mission in the mid-’50s, when March of Dimes-funded research led to the development of vaccines by Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert Sabin.

Since then, the Foundation has devoted its efforts to saving babies’ lives and preventing birth defects.

The March of Dimes is the leading advocate for the health of mothers and babies. Its mission affects Americans of every age, race, sex, religion and ethnic origin.