Seventh Annual Benihana Children's Day Contest Raises $33,000 to Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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Jun 18, 2015, 09:27 ET

MIAMI, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Benihana Inc., the nation's leading operator of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, presented St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® with a donation of more than $33,000 on May 27. The contribution was made possible through funds raised by the 2015 "Children Helping Children" coloring contest, part of the Children's Day program that culminated May 5.

Benihana Inc. presented St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R) with a donation of more than $33,000 on May 27. The contribution was made possible through funds raised by the 2015 "Children Helping Children" coloring contest, part of the Children's Day program that culminated May 5.

Throughout the month of April, children who visited any Benihana location nationwide were encouraged to draw a picture signifying what the theme of "Children Helping Children" meant to them. For each entry form collected, Benihana donated $1 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the global leader in finding cures and saving children from life-threatening diseases. Additionally, 100 percent of the purchase price for all of the Benihana Kabuki Kids meals served on Children's Day, May 5, went toward the total amount raised.

Parents could also take a picture of their child's art and post it to Instagram with the hashtag #BeniKids or #ChildrensDay. To thank participants, Benihana selected one winner from each restaurant to receive a complimentary dinner for eight people.

The total collected funds from Children's Day Kids Meals on May 5 and the coloring contest entries were presented during a special sushi rolling event at St. Jude on May 27. As part of the celebration, children assembled their own vegetable roll and sushi dessert treats with assistance from top Benihana sushi chefs.

The 2015 Children Helping Children Coloring Contest was part of Benihana's broader initiative to celebrate Japanese heritage while supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To date, Benihana has raised over $240,000 for St. Jude.

For more information, visit www.benihana.com.

About Benihana

Headquartered in Aventura, Florida, Benihana Inc. is the nation's leading operator of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants with 96 restaurants nationwide, including 64 Benihana restaurants, six Haru sushi restaurants and 26 RA Sushi restaurants. In addition, 14 franchised Benihana restaurants are operating in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. To learn more about Benihana Inc. and its three restaurant concepts, please view the corporate video at www.benihana.com/about/video.

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SOURCE Benihana Inc.