Dallas, Texas – (Oct. 15, 2013) – This September’s National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month marked the 10-year anniversary of the partnership between Chili’s® Grill & Bar and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and guests and team members as well as St. Jude families and friends made this year’s campaign one for the record books. With the conclusion of the annual campaign Wednesday, Sept. 25, Chili’s reached the extraordinary commitment of raising more than $50 million for St. Jude – the largest donation from a single-partner campaign in the hospital’s history.
Heading into the 2013 ‘Chili’s More Hope Campaign for St. Jude’ campaign, the brand was just shy of reaching the $50 million milestone, but $4 million was no match for the passion and persistence of campaign supporters. Guests and team members once again rallied together throughout the month of September to ensure Chili’s promise was met and St. Jude could continue leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.
“We have a saying at Chili’s that ‘More Life Happens Here℠,’ but more life truly happens within the halls of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital thanks to countless doctors, nurses and staff who provide exceptional care for children fighting deadly diseases every day,” said Wyman Roberts, CEO and president of Brinker International and president of Chili’s Grill & Bar. “I could not be more proud of our restaurant team members and more appreciative of our guests whose generosity over the past 10 years helps the hospital continue its lifesaving work and provides $50 million worth of hope to St. Jude patients and families."
Every September, Chili’s restaurants across the country as well as in Puerto Rico offer a number of in-restaurant and online giving opportunities designed to raise funds for St. Jude. To date, guests and team members over the campaign’s history have:
- Colored approximately 16.3 million signature chili-pepper shaped coloring sheets
- Designed more than 550,000 ready-to-color T-shirts featuring the campaign logo
- Purchased more than 395,000 campaign slap bands to show support for St. Jude
“Chili’s Grill & Bar continues to amaze us with their enthusiasm, dedication and incredible support,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The fulfillment of this 10-year, $50 million commitment to the kids of St. Jude is an unprecedented milestone. Their generous donation to St. Jude will help ensure that the hospital continues to do everything we can to reach a day when the dream of our founder, Danny Thomas is realized and no child will die in the dawn of life.
To learn more about the multiple ways guests give back during the More Hope Campaign, visit morehope.chilis.com.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Since opening more than 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20% to 80% overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that "No child should die in the dawn of life."
Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.
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.