$50 Million Later, Guests and Team Members Prove 'More Hope' Really Does Happen at Chili's

DALLAS, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This September's National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month marked the 10-year anniversary of the partnership between Chili's® Grill & Bar and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, and guests and team members as well as St. Jude families and friends made this year's campaign one for the record books. With the conclusion of Chili's More Hope Campaign for St. Jude Wednesday, Sept. 25, the brand reached the extraordinary commitment of raising more than $50 million for St. Jude – the largest donation from a single-partner campaign in the hospital's history.

Heading into the 2013 campaign, Chili's was just shy of reaching the $50 million milestone, but the $4 million goal proved no match to the passion and persistence of campaign supporters. Guests and team members once again rallied together throughout the month of September to raise more than $4.9 million, ensuring Chili's promise was met and St. Jude could continue leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.

"At Chili's, we say 'More Life Happens Here^SM,' and more life truly happens within the halls of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital thanks to countless doctors, nurses and staff who provide exceptional care for children fighting deadly diseases every day," said Wyman Roberts, CEO and president of Brinker International and president of Chili's Grill & Bar. "I could not be more proud of our restaurant team members and more appreciative of our guests whose generosity over the past 10 years helps the hospital continue its lifesaving work and provides more than $50 million worth of hope to St. Jude patients and families."

Every September, Chili's restaurants across the country as well as in Puerto Rico offer a number of in-restaurant and online giving opportunities designed to raise funds for St. Jude. To date, throughout the campaign's history, guests and team members have:

• Colored approximately 16.3 million signature chili-pepper shaped coloring sheets;  
• Designed more than 550,000 ready-to-color T-shirts featuring the campaign logo; and
• Purchased more than 465,000 campaign wrist bands to show support for St. Jude.

"Chili's generosity and support over the past 10 years is helping St. Jude to lead the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and dedication of Chili's team members and guests who are helping to further our mission of finding cures and saving children around the world."

To learn more about the multiple ways guests give back during the More Hope Campaign, visit morehope.chilis.com.

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About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Since opening more than 50 years ago, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

About Chili's Grill & Bar
Chili's® Grill & Bar is the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), a recognized leader in casual dining. Chili's offers a variety of Southwestern-inspired, classic American favorites at nearly 1,600 locations in 33 countries and two territories. In addition to Chili's, Brinker owns and operates Maggiano's Little Italy®.

At Chili's, More Life Happens Here^SM around every table, every day, at every Chili's across the country. Guests are encouraged to share their stories of More Life Happening at their restaurant by connecting  with the brand on Chili's blog (blog.chilis.com), Facebook (http://facebook.com/chilis), Twitter (http://twitter.com/chilis), YouTube (http://youtube.com/chilis) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/chilis). For more brand-related information, please visit http://www.chilis.com.

Video with caption: "St. Jude has 50 million reasons to say 'thanks' to Chili's and their guests." Video available at: http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-MM01359-20131022.mp4

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar