Chili's Turns the Simple Act of Dining Out into a Meaningful Gift this Holiday Season

DALLAS, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It is the season of giving, and Chili's® Grill & Bar could not think of a better way to bring joy to less fortunate children this time of year than encouraging guests to 'eat-a-lot for Toys-for-Tots.' On Monday, Dec. 9, more than 1,200 Chili's restaurants across the country kick off the gift giving season with a 'Give Back Event' in support of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide toys, books and other items to children.

Unlike traditional toy drives, there is no gift required to participate in Chili's Toys for Tots Give Back Event. All guests have to do is dine at their local Chili's for lunch or dinner Monday, Dec. 9 and mention to their server they are eating out in support of Toys for Tots. For every mention of the fundraiser, Chili's will donate 10 percent of the check's net sales to the organization, which will go directly to providing gifts for less fortunate children in the guest's local community. 

"During the holiday season, our restaurants are filled with the joy of family and friends gathering over great food, and we want to extend that feeling beyond Chili's to make those less fortunate feel special," said Krista Gibson, senior vice president of brand strategy for Chili's Grill & Bar. "It is important to the brand to continually provide our guests these opportunities to give back in such a simple way, and through Chili's Give Back Event benefitting Toys for Tots, guests will be giving children from their own community a very meaningful – and much needed – gift during this special time of year."

While this is the first time Chili's restaurants nationwide have collectively joined forces to host a Give Back Event for Toys for Tots, the brand has a history with the organization. Over the years, local Chili's restaurants throughout the country have partnered with their neighborhood Toys for Tots chapter to provide toys for as many children as possible.

"We are very pleased to welcome Chili's on board as a national corporate sponsor of the 2013 Marine Toys for Tots Campaign," said retired Marine Major Bill Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Their community service goals certainly align with those the Marine Corps has promoted for more than 65 years through its Toys for Tots Program, and with their generous support, we will most assuredly fulfill the holiday dreams of many less fortunate children, who might otherwise be forgotten." 

To learn more about Chili's Give Back Event benefitting Toys for Tots, visit chilis.com. 

About Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 66th year, Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to economically disadvantaged children through the gift of a new toy during the Christmas holiday season. Their gifts offer these children recognition and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the gifts they provide, such as books, games and sports equipment, make a significant contribution to the educational, social and physical development of these children. In 2012, Marines distributed gifts to 7.1 million children in 745 communities nationwide. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation relies on individual donations from the American public as well as support from corporate sponsors like Chili's.  For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

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℠ 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.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar