Restaurants, C-Stores and Retailers Defy the Challenging Economy Raising A Record $5.6 Million During Annual St. Jude Halloween Promotion

Partners smash record previously set in 2008 by nearly 15 percent to support kids of St. Jude

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Despite tough economic times, businesses involved in the 18^th annual St. Jude Halloween Promotion, sponsored by MillerCoors, exceeded their fundraising goal of $5 million and raised a record-breaking $5.6 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®. St. Jude is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

MillerCoors adopted the St. Jude Halloween Promotion as its official national Halloween project in 1994. Since it began in 1992, MillerCoors, its distributors and retailers have raised more than $46 million for the children of St. Jude.

During the month-long Halloween Promotion, more than 12,000 restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores and other retail locations nationwide encouraged consumers to make a $1 donation to St. Jude to support its groundbreaking research and lifesaving care. In return for their contribution, donors wrote their names on pinups, which the establishments displayed throughout the month of October.

National partners Buffalo Wild Wings, Casey's General Stores, Fox & Hound Restaurant Group and Champps Entertainment, Inc., Hess Corporation, and TravelCenters of America/Petro Stopping Centers boasted more than 4,000 retail locations nationwide that participated in the Halloween Promotion. Collectively these companies generated half of the Halloween Promotion's fundraising total.

"We are so thankful to have loyal St. Jude partners who are committed to being generous corporate citizens through fundraising campaigns like the Halloween Promotion," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "Even during difficult economic times, the lifesaving work of St. Jude must continue, and with the support of our partners, we are able to pursue the groundbreaking research and treatments that will save the lives of children in communities everywhere."

In December, a recognition ceremony was held at St. Jude to thank national partners and top-selling accounts for their contributions. The partners in attendance collectively raised more than $3 million of the $5.6 million total.

MillerCoors, Buffalo Wild Wings, Casey's General Stores and Fox & Hound Restaurant Group were honored at the event for raising more than $1 million since partnering with St. Jude in the Hallowing Promotion. In gratitude for this achievement, these partners are named on the Corporate Partnerships wall located in the hospital's Patient Care Center lobby.

Other national partner establishments attending the recognition ceremony were Hess Corporation, Houchens Save-A-Lot, Palm Beach Tan, Petland, TravelCenters of America/Petro Stopping Centers and zPizza.

Regional partners in attendance included AllSouth Federal Credit Union, Cedar Enterprises, Monarch Beverage Company, North Coast Distributing, OnCue, River City Distributing, Rogo Distributors, Schlotzsky's, Summit Distributors and Yankee Spirits.

By the Numbers

Participating locations: 12,000

States: 49 and Puerto Rico

Pinups sold: more than 5.6 million

2009 fundraising total: $5.6 million

2008 fundraising total: $4.78 million

Percent increase: 14.7 percent

About St. Jude

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. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital