• by Teresa Buyikian , September 6, 2024

Donating to a worthy cause is always a good thing, but it’s a lot more fun when there’s coloring involved.

Chili’s has brought back its popular Create-A-Pepper Program, which benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Over the course of the last 22 years, Chili’s has aided in raising more than $110 million for the children’s charity, helping ensure “families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.” The program will run through the month of September, which is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Through the end of the month, guests can visit their local Chili’s to purchase a Create-A-Pepper coloring sheet for a $1, $5, $10 or $25 donation – 100% of which goes to St. Jude’s. The coloring sheets are also available online here. Customers completed artwork will be posted to the walls of their local Chili’s for all to see.

"At the heart of Chili's is making everyone feel special, and our partnership with St. Jude is one of the most special, impactful ways we connect with our communities," said Chili's CMO George Felix in a release. "Our guests and team members have blown me away with their generosity over the years… I'm incredibly proud and cannot wait to see our guests coloring peppers for such a great cause."

The brand is promoting the nationwide program via its social channels such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To learn more about Create-A-Pepper program, customers can visit chilis.com/st-jude.

The Chili’s Create-A-Pepper program launched in 2002 when Memphis-area Chili’s employees started the initiative in St. Jude’s hometown. That first year raised $14,000, which has grown nationwide over the last 22 years through several fundraising initiatives.