Make Monday Meaningful: Dine at Chili's to Help Fight Childhood Cancer

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Every guest who visits participating Chili's® Grill & Bar restaurants across the country Monday, Sept. 26, will play an integral role in the fight against childhood cancer by simply dining in or picking up their favorite menu items.  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:  http://www.multivu.com/mnr/51355-chili-s-create-a-pepper-for-st-jude

Monday is Donate Profits Day, when Chili's will donate 100 percent of profits to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As part of the eighth annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign, every September during National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, Chili's raises funds for the hospital to benefit its mission of finding cures for children with cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

Since the inception of the Create-A-Pepper campaign in 2002, more than $35 million has been donated to St. Jude by Chili's guests and team members, bringing the brand even closer to accomplishing its $50 million, 10-year commitment to the pediatric research hospital. Once completed, Chili's contribution will be the largest donation from a single partner campaign in St. Jude history.

"Donate Profits Day truly demonstrates the generosity of Chili's team members and guests," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "This is such a great way to support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children here in the U.S. and around the world – not only can guests enjoy a delicious meal, but they can help St. Jude in the fight against childhood cancer."

In addition to dining at Chili's Monday, guests may also contribute to the campaign in numerous ways including:

• Making a donation to St. Jude and receiving a signature chili pepper coloring sheet;
• Buying a Create-A-Pepper HOPE slap band for only $4*;
• Purchasing a Create-A-Pepper T-shirt for $12*;
• Sending a virtual gift through www.stjude.org/chilisgifts. A virtual gift graphic will automatically post to guests' Facebook wall when they donate.

Chili's is also utilizing social and digital methods including email, Facebook and Twitter to provide guests more ways to donate and stay informed during the Create-A-Pepper campaign. Guests can:

• Sign up for Chili's Email Club to receive exclusive offers, insider information about the campaign;
• Become a fan and donate on Facebook through the specialized Create-A-Pepper tab on Chili's Facebook page;
• Receive a calendar reminder to dine in-restaurants on Donate Profits Day;
• Stay informed about the Create-A-Pepper campaign by following the brand on Twitter @Chilis. Additionally, by using the campaign hashtag, #CreateAPepper, Chili's Twitter followers can show their support and see how others are spreading hope for St. Jude!

"ChiliHeads across the country believe in 'giving back til it hurts,' and Donate Profits Day is an ideal way to wrap-up our annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign for the patients at St. Jude," said Wyman Roberts, president of Chili's Grill & Bar. "It's one day when we come together with our guests to make a difference in the lives of so many children. Please join us, Monday, Sept. 26 – whether dining in or ordering to go – to help find a cure for childhood cancer."

To learn more or make an online donation to the campaign, visit www.createapepper.com.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital's research has helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

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 fun, energetic atmosphere and a distinct, fresh mix of grilled American favorites at more than 1,500 locations in 32 countries and two territories. Brinker's wholly-owned restaurant brands include Chili's® Grill & Bar, and Maggiano's Little Italy®. Brinker also holds a minority investment in Romano's Macaroni Grill®. Follow news about Chili's on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chilis, @Chilis on Twitter and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/chilis. For more information, please visit www.chilis.com.

About Create-A-Pepper: Each September during National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, Chili's® Grill & Bar hosts a nationwide fundraiser for longtime charitable partner, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® in an effort to raise $50 million in 10 years to support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children. Throughout the Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign, guests at locations nationwide and in Puerto Rico can help support the lifesaving work of St. Jude through several in-restaurant, digital and interactive promotions. For additional information about the campaign, please visit www.createapepper.com.  

*at least 45 percent of the purchase price of each slap band and T-shirt sold will be donated to St. Jude.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar