Dine at Chili's All Day, Monday, Sept. 27 to Help Fight Childhood Cancer

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Participating Chili's® Grill & Bar restaurants across the country will donate 100 percent of all profits Monday, Sept. 27 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® during the brand's annual Donate Profits Day. Each September during National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, Chili's supports St. Jude through the Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign.  To date, Chili's has raised more than $30 million for St. Jude, moving the brand beyond the halfway point of its 10-year goal of $50 million. Once completed, Chili's contribution will be the largest donation from a single partner campaign in St. Jude history.

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Sept. 27 is the culmination of Chili's month-long fundraising effort fueled by dedicated team members and restaurant guests. This year marks the first time donations can be made via text message and on Chili's Facebook page.  

In addition to donating digitally and dining at a participating Chili's on Donate Profits Day, guests may also:

• Buy a five-pack of chili pepper-shaped Create-A-Pepper wrist bands for $3; at least 30 percent of the retail price will be donated to St. Jude.
• Use in-restaurant chili pepper coloring sheets to join Chili's e-club. For every new e-club member in September, Chili's will donate $1 to St. Jude, up to $1 million.
• Using a mobile phone, text HOPE to 90999 to make a $5 donation. Visit www.createapepper.com or www.chilis.com for more details.
• Become a Fan and donate on Facebook through the specialized "Create-A-Pepper" tab on Chili's Facebook page.
• Create an e-card at www.createapepper.com to e-mail family and friends.
• Visit www.createapepper.com to make an online donation.

"For the past six years, Chili's Grill & Bar has been a tremendous national partner for St. Jude by putting our cause in front of their guests and asking for support," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr. CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "We are thrilled that Chili's -- and its guests -- have taken our mission to heart and have helped us continue the fight against childhood cancer."

Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer went national in 2004 when the campaign grew out of a local effort in 2002 after seven Memphis-area Chili's raised $14,000 for St. Jude with nothing more than crayons and chili pepper coloring sheets.

"I truly believe our team members gain as much from our annual Create-A-Pepper campaign as they give," said Wyman Roberts, president of Chili's Grill & Bar. "Every year, ChiliHeads look forward to September and know that with each pepper and online donation, a family is positively impacted. It's an opportunity to be part of something bigger than sales and they welcome it."  

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 work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. In 2010, St. Jude was ranked the most trusted charity in the nation in a public survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a highly respected international polling and research firm. St. Jude was also named the nation's top children's cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children's Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org.

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 1,550 locations in 30 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 kicks off 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.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar