When life seems bleak, is the chance to win big money enough to spark hope for a brighter future?

I think quite a few food companies are tapping into this idea, because I've gotten a lot of contest notices lately.

Dreyer's "Taste of Recovery" contest has some Great Depression history behind it, too.

In 1929, the ice-cream company created Rocky Road ice cream, which may have cheered up those who could afford to buy it. Eighty years later, the company is offering another helping of hope to the tune of $100,000.

In June, Dreyer's will debut a new "slow churned" ice cream flavor, and the company is seeking a spokesperson. Today is the last day that you can go online at www.icecream.com and enter. You need to answer three questions:

Why are you entering to win an opportunity to be Dreyer's "A Taste of Recovery" spokesperson and $100,000?

Why do you deserve and/or need this money?

How would you spend the $100,000 to pursue your dream?

According to a Dreyer's press release, in 1929, most ice cream came in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The story goes that Bill Dreyer added walnuts (later replaced with almonds) to chocolate ice cream and cut up marshmallows with his wife's kitchen shears to make the first batch of Rocky Road. Bill Dreyer and Joseph Edy picked a name that would give folks something to smile about despite their financial woes. Rocky Road remains a best-selling flavor today.

What's Mrs. Butterworth's first name? The company is giving $500 to the person with the correct guess. The press release calls the contest, "some good, easy-to-swallow news in a world of uncertainty."

To enter, go to www.mrsbutterworthsyrup.com/namecontest and submit your guess with an explanation of why you think it's correct. Or send your entry to: "Guess Mrs. Butterworth's First Name" Contest, c/o BHG PR, 546 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043. Entries must be received by July 17.

If I were to enter, I'd guess "Honey."

If you have a photogenic family, you might have a chance to win $25,000 for your kids' tuition costs with Barilla's "Piccolini Smiles" contest.

Between now and June 28, readers can visit www.PiccoliniSmiles.com and upload photos of their children enjoying or preparing Barilla Piccolini as part of a meal.