Chili’s Grill & Bar is helping St. Jude patients with the brand’s ninth annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancercampaign.
Participating Chili’s restaurants nationwide and in Puerto Rico are joining in the fight against childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. S
eptember is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month and through September 26, Chili’s guests can help the cause by donating at their local restaurants and online.
Last year, Chili’s guests and team members raised $5.1 million for St. Jude. To date, the Create-A-Pepper campaign has helped Chili’s donate more than $41 million, progressing toward the brand’s 10-year goal to donate $50 million to the hospital.
Once completed, this extraordinary commitment will be the largest donation from a single-partner campaign in St. Jude history.
“The Chili’s Create-A-Pepper campaign is one of the most exciting fundraising programs that benefit St. Jude each year,” says Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“Chili’s longstanding support of St. Jude helps us ensure that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything, and that more patients are able to celebrate the everyday moments—both big and small—that make life special,” he says.
“There’s a sense of pride knowing our continued commitment through our Create-A-Pepper campaign brings a smile back to a child’s face and provides comfort to families impacted by childhood cancer,” says Wyman Roberts, president of Chili’s Grill & Bar. “Every September, our team members and guests generously give back to our friends at St. Jude, further supporting the hospital’s pioneering research and helping to create the everyday moments we all take for granted.”
Chili’s guests can participate in the Create-A-Pepper campaign in the following ways:
- Make a donation to St. Jude and receive a signature chili pepper coloring sheet. Decorated sheets are displayed in restaurants throughout September;
- Buy a Create-A-Pepper Zipper Pull for only $4;
- Purchase a Create-A-Pepper T-shirt for $12; and
- Dine at Chili’s on Donate Profits Day—Monday, September 24—when 100 percent of net profits from participating restaurants nationwide will go to St. Jude.
There are several new ways for guests to become involved with this year’s campaign, including the Create-A-Pepper Zipper Pull, which comes in a package with three mini markers so guests can design and clip onto backpacks or duffle bag zippers, belt loops, or key rings.
At least 45 percent of the purchase price of each zipper pull and T-shirt sold will be donated to St. Jude.
Also added this year is Chili’s Post-A-Pepper contest, where guests are encouraged to post pictures to Chili’s Facebook page through September 16 of their decorated coloring sheets, T-shirts, and zipper pulls, along with a photo caption of what St. Jude means to them.
One grand prize winner and their guest will receive an all-expense paid trip to visit the St. Jude campus in Memphis, Tennessee. Other prizes include St. Jude gift bags and daily drawings for Chili’s gift cards.
