Chili's® Grill & Bar and Sports Analyst, Mike Golic, Team Up with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® to Tackle Childhood Cancer

DALLAS, Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2002, Chili's^® Grill & Bar guests and team members have supported the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® every September during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The partnership, which began locally and grew to a nationwide effort, reached a significant milestone last September when the brand fulfilled the extraordinary commitment of raising more than $50 million for St. Jude, one of the largest donations from a single-partner campaign in the hospital's history.

The Chili's and St. Jude partnership story continues today through ongoing fundraising efforts like this September's Give Back. Give Hope.: Tackle Childhood Cancer with St. Jude campaign. The new campaign reflects the next era of the Chili's – St. Jude partnership and leverages new interactive touch points, such as Ziosk® tabletop devices, to generate donations for this worthwhile cause.   

"Fulfilling our $50-million commitment to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was a proud moment for the brand, but our support for the hospital's mission of finding cures and saving children does not end there," said Wyman Roberts, CEO and president of Brinker International and president of Chili's Grill & Bar. "I am confident this September's Give Back. Give Hope. campaign will be met with the passion and dedication of years past, and our guests and team members will once again come together to make a significant impact on the lives of St. Jude children and families."

Now through September 22, guests at more than 1,200 participating Chili's restaurants across the country can participate in the Give Back. Give Hope. campaign to support St. Jude. Donating is as easy as ordering:

• Purchase game day gear like eye black strips for $1 and knotted hair ties for $2 when dining in-restaurant*.
• Add a donation amount of your choice directly to the check when using Ziosk tabletop devices or paying with your server.
• Join the social conversation using #GiveHope.
• Dine with friends and family Monday, Sept. 22 for Chili's annual Donate Profits Day, when the brand donates profits, at least $100,000, from participating restaurants to St. Jude. 

*75 percent of the purchase price of each eye black and 86 percent of the purchase price of each hair tie sold will be donated to St. Jude.

To help generate excitement and awareness for the new, sports-themed campaign, Chili's has enlisted the support of former pro football player and sports analyst, Mike Golic, in its effort to tackle childhood cancer. Golic was 19 years old when he first visited St. Jude, along with the rest of his University of Notre Dame football team. The initial visit made a lasting impression.

"I am honored to partner with Chili's for the Give Back. Give Hope. campaign to benefit our friends at St. Jude," said Golic. "It's been profoundly humbling to meet with the families, hear their stories and reconnect with the children. The support St. Jude provides is a relief to families and enhances the quality of life for so many children."

To learn more about the Give Back. Give Hope.: Tackle Childhood Cancer with St. Jude campaign, visit http://blog.chilis.com/stjude. Guests can also receive updates by following the brand on Facebook and Twitter or joining Chili's Email Club.

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 more than 1,500 locations in 30 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.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world's best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-Chilis-Give-Back-Give-Hope-090914.mp4

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar