- Chili's Aims to Reach $25 Million Milestone in 10-Year, $50 Million Commitment -

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Chili's Grill & Bar announced today it will donate 100 percent of all profits on Monday, Sept. 29 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R) as part of its month-long Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign. Chili's seeks to reach the $25 million mark of their 10-year, unprecedented $50 million pledge to St. Jude during the 2008 campaign. Once completed, the donation will be the largest gift from a single partner campaign in St. Jude's history.

'At Chili's, we know that dining out has become a special occasion in this sluggish economy,' said Todd Diener, president of Chili's Grill & Bar. 'So we hope individuals and families across the country will take the opportunity on September 29 to not only dine out together but also to give back and help us continue supporting the groundbreaking research and life-saving care St. Jude provides.'

Held at participating Chili's restaurants nationwide, Create-A-Pepper honors National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and, in five years, has raised $18.7 million for St. Jude. For Chili's, Sept. 29 concludes a month of intense fundraising that actively enlists Chili's employees, restaurant guests and the community at large in addition to St. Jude patients, supporters and staff. Chili's has been inviting the public to contribute in multiple ways:

    -- Make a donation to St. Jude and receive a Create-A-Pepper pepper
       coloring sheet designed for display at restaurants during the month.
    -- Purchase Create-A-Pepper T-shirts that can be customized with permanent
       marker.
    -- Buy a customized Create-A-Pepper key that can be cut for use at home.
    -- Visit http://www.createapepper.com to make an online donation.

For more information, to purchase Create-A-Pepper T-shirts and keys, to make an online donation to the campaign or to create an e-pepper, visit http://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. Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit http://www.stjude.org.

Chili's Grill & Bar is the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International (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 more than 1,400 locations in 24 countries. Other Brinker brands include Maggiano's Little Italy(R), On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina(R), and Romano's Macaroni Grill(R). For more information, please visit http://www.chilis.com.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar