St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R), Chili's(R) Grill & Bar Kick-off Sixth Annual...

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R), Chili's(R) Grill & Bar Kick-off
Sixth Annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer Campaign
-Chili's seeks to raise funds for its unprecedented $50 million, 10-year
pledge to St. Jude-

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when many nonprofits are
seeing donations decline, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital((R)) is
receiving a boost from Chili's((R)) Grill & Bar thanks to the launch of the
sixth annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign. Now through
Sept. 30, Chili's restaurants around the country will observe National
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by inviting guests to support the St. Jude
mission to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic
childhood diseases through research and treatment.

Guests at participating Chili's restaurants can contribute to St. Jude in
multiple ways:
-- Make a donation to St. Jude and receive a Create-A-Pepper chili pepper
coloring sheet. Decorated sheets will be displayed in restaurants
nationwide throughout September.
-- 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
or
the office.
-- Eat at Chili's on Monday, Sept. 28, when Chili's will donate
100 percent of profits from participating restaurant sales to St.
Jude.

-- Visit www.createapepper.com to make an online donation.

"Each year the Chili's Create-A-Pepper campaign inspires Chili's guests to
support St. Jude, and we are so thankful to have such generous and
enthusiastic partners in our mission," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., Chief
Executive Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "We are
so grateful that we can depend on Chili's support, and we appreciate every
dollar given by their guests to help continue finding the cures and providing
the treatments that will save children's lives."

"We are excited about our commitment to St. Jude and our team members look
forward to Create-A-Pepper every year," said Todd Diener, president of Chili's
Grill & Bar. "Chili's considers ourselves part of the communities we serve,
and communities band together in tough times. Particularly during these trying
economic times, it's more important than ever to assist children and families
with the inability to pay so they can get the medical attention they need."

To date, Chili's has raised $25 million of its $50 million over 10 years
commitment to St. Jude. Once completed, the donation will be the largest
donation from a single partner campaign in St. Jude history.

Chili's and St. Jude's relationship goes beyond fundraising, however. In
November 2007, the two celebrated a significant milestone in their partnership
with the opening of the Chili's Care Center. The seven-floor, 340,000-square
foot facility combines 21st century imaging and treatment technology with St.
Jude's proven approach to medical research: put patients and scientists in the
same building to fast-track the translation of new knowledge into better care
for children around the nation. The Chili's Care Center is the first medical
building on the St. Jude campus to bear the name of a corporate partner.

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
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. 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.

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 1,400 locations in 29 countries and two territories.
Other Brinker brands include Maggiano's Little Italy(R) and On The Border
Mexican Grill & Cantina(R). Brinker also holds a minority investment in
Romano's Macaroni Grill(R). For more information, please visit www.chilis.com.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar

Stacey Sullivan of Chili's Grill & Bar, Media Hotline, 1-800-775-7290,
stacey.sullivan@brinker.com; or Jessica Lukens of ALSAC/St. Jude,
+1-901-578-2266, jessica.lukens@stjude.org