In 2002, Chili's Memphis General Manager and today Operations Director Dharam Rampersad was looking for a way to connect with his local community. Aware of the life-saving research happening at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, he and fellow managers came up with an idea. With the help of some crayons and chili pepper coloring sheets, they organized seven neighboring Chili's restaurants to raise $14,000 in support of St. Jude. Fifteen years later, that $14,000 has been multiplied 5,000 times. As of 2022, we have raised more than $100 million for St. Jude, and we were the first corporate partner to have a building on the hospital campus named in our honor. The seven-story, 340,000–square-foot facility houses 21st-century imaging and treatment technology in support of St. Jude and their mission: Finding cures. Saving children®. Supported by the enduring generosity of our Guests and Team Members, we are now on our way to raising another $30 million for a school on St. Jude's campus, so children can continue their education while undergoing these life-saving treatments. We're proud to share that it all began almost 20 years ago, with the head and heart of some enterprising ChiliHead managers.
St. Jude: Can One Person Make a Difference?
