Since 2002, Chili's Grill & Bar guests and team members have supported the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital every September during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
The partnership, which began locally and grew to a nationwide effort, reached a significant milestone last September when the brand fulfilled the extraordinary commitment of raising more than $50 million for St. Jude, one of the largest donations from a single-partner campaign in the hospital's history.
The Chili's and St. Jude partnership story continues today through ongoing fundraising efforts like this September's 'Give Back. Give Hope.: Tackle Childhood Cancer with St. Jude' campaign. The new campaign reflects the next era of the Chili's and St. Jude partnership and leverages new interactive touch points, such as Ziosk tabletop devices, to generate donations for this worthwhile cause.
"Fulfilling our $50-million commitment to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was a proud moment for the brand, but our support for the hospital's mission of finding cures and saving children does not end there," says Wyman Roberts, CEO and president of Brinker International and president of Chili's Grill & Bar. "I am confident this September's 'Give Back. Give Hope.' campaign will be met with the passion and dedication of years past, and our guests and team members will once again come together to make a significant impact on the lives of St. Jude children and families."
Now through Sept. 22, guests at more than 1,200 participating Chili's restaurants across the country can participate in the 'Give Back. Give Hope.' campaign to support St. Jude. Donating is as easy as ordering:
- Purchase game day gear like eye black strips for $1 and knotted hair ties for $2 when dining in-restaurant. (Seventy-five percent of the purchase price of each eye black and 86 percent of the purchase price of each hair tie sold will be donated to St. Jude.)
- Add a donation amount of your choice directly to the check when using Ziosk tabletop devices or paying with your server.
- Join the social conversation using #GiveHope.
- Dine with friends and family Monday, Sept. 22 for Chili's annual Donate Profits Day, when the brand donates profits, at least $100,000, from participating restaurants to St. Jude.
To help generate excitement and awareness for the new, sports-themed campaign, Chili's has enlisted the support of former pro football player and sports analyst Mike Golic in its effort to tackle childhood cancer. Golic was 19 years old when he first visited St. Jude, along with the rest of his University of Notre Dame football team. The initial visit made a lasting impression.
"I am honored to partner with Chili's for the 'Give Back. Give Hope.' campaign to benefit our friends at St. Jude," Golic says. "It's been profoundly humbling to meet with the families, hear their stories and reconnect with the children. The support St. Jude provides is a relief to families and enhances the quality of life for so many children."
