DALLAS, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It is the season of
giving, and Chili's® Grill & Bar could not think of a better
way to bring joy to less fortunate children this time of year than
encouraging guests to 'eat-a-lot for Toys-for-Tots.' On
Monday, Dec. 9, more than 1,200
Chili's restaurants across the country kick off the gift giving
season with a 'Give Back Event' in support of the Marine Toys for
Tots Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
provide toys, books and other items to children.
Unlike traditional toy drives, there is no gift required to
participate in Chili's Toys for Tots Give Back Event. All guests
have to do is dine at their local Chili's for lunch or dinner
Monday, Dec. 9 and mention to their
server they are eating out in support of Toys for Tots. For every
mention of the fundraiser, Chili's will donate 10 percent of the
check's net sales to the organization, which will go directly to
providing gifts for less fortunate children in the guest's local
community.
"During the holiday season, our restaurants are filled with the
joy of family and friends gathering over great food, and we want to
extend that feeling beyond Chili's to make those less fortunate
feel special," said Krista Gibson,
senior vice president of brand strategy for Chili's Grill &
Bar. "It is important to the brand to continually provide our
guests these opportunities to give back in such a simple way, and
through Chili's Give Back Event benefitting Toys for Tots, guests
will be giving children from their own community a very meaningful
– and much needed – gift during this special time of year."
While this is the first time Chili's restaurants nationwide have
collectively joined forces to host a Give Back Event for Toys for
Tots, the brand has a history with the organization. Over the
years, local Chili's restaurants throughout the country have
partnered with their neighborhood Toys for Tots chapter to provide
toys for as many children as possible.
"We are very pleased to welcome Chili's on board as a
national corporate sponsor of the 2013 Marine Toys for Tots
Campaign," said retired Marine Major Bill
Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots
Foundation. "Their community service goals certainly align
with those the Marine Corps has promoted for more than 65 years
through its Toys for Tots Program, and with their generous support,
we will most assuredly fulfill the holiday dreams of many less
fortunate children, who might otherwise be forgotten."
To learn more about Chili's Give Back Event benefitting Toys for
Tots, visit chilis.com.
About Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
The Marine Toys
for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization authorized by
the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide
fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps
Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 66th year, Toys for Tots
provides joy and a message of hope to economically
disadvantaged children through the gift of a new toy during
the Christmas holiday season. Their gifts offer these children
recognition and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime.
Many of the gifts they provide, such as books, games and sports
equipment, make a significant contribution to the educational,
social and physical development of these children. In 2012, Marines
distributed gifts to 7.1 million children in 745 communities
nationwide. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation relies
on individual donations from the American public as well as
support from corporate sponsors like Chili's. For more
information, visit www.toysfortots.org.
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.
SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar