Earline Hebert Adams
December 4, 2006
Houma woman nabbed with crack cocaine
December 6, 2006
Chili’s Grill and Bar Restaurants in Houma recently donated more than $12,000, the most in the region, to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s “Create A Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer” campaign.
During the month of September, ChiliHeads (employees) at eight local Chili’s restaurants raised funds by selling Create A Pepper color sheets, gift cards and customized T-shirts. Overall, the New Orleans area Chili’s, which includes the Houma restaurant, was one of the top 10 highest grossing regions nationwide.
“The New Orleans area raised $49,000. The nationwide Create A Pepper campaign goal was to raise $5.1 million. The franchise exceeded the expectation by $2 million,” said Houma Chili’s Manager Rick Lobur. “Over a 10-year period, Chili’s has committed more than $50 million to the research campaign.”
Last year, the local Chili’s didn’t participate in the cancer-cure campaign because of hurricanes Katrina’s and Rita’s destruction to the area. Lobur said this year the staff wanted to come back strong, breaking their own donation record.
“We want to do whatever we can to help find a cure for childhood cancer,” he said. “It’s all about the kids.”
The Houma Chili’s began their donation drive in August. They set a goal of $12,000, which had never been met before by the local food chain. In 28 days, the local restaurant reached its goal.
“A lot of organizations look for donations for other things, but when you have a child that’s stricken with cancer, as a person you want to do every thing you can to help them overcome that,” Lobur said.
The Houma ChiliHeads were determined to raise more money than they had in the five years they’d been participating in the campaign, he said.
Houma employees Dayna Prosperie of Raceland, Stephanie Duplantis and Emily Ougel, both of Houma, generated the largest donations out of the 40 employees that participated.
“These number speak for themselves,” campaign spokesperson and producer of the CBS-TV series “Survivor” Jeff Probst said in a release. “The passion and dedication of all the New-Orleans-area ChiliHeads was crucial in making this year’s Create A Pepper campaign a success. I know the courageous kids of St. Jude would agree that these ChiliHeads are amazing.”
Chili’s Grill and Bar offers an energetic atmosphere and a distinct, fresh mix of grilled American favorites in more than 1,200 locations in 24 countries. Chili’s is one of four restaurants brands owned by Dallas-based Brinker International, a recognized leader in casual dining.
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 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. American Lebanese Syrian Association Charities (ALSAC), a fund-raising organization, financially supports St. Jude.
For more information about the hospital, visit www.stjude.org.
Staff photo by Sophia Ruffin • Tri-Parish Times/ Houma Chili’s Grill and Bar Restaurant employees Dayna Prosperie of Raceland and Stephanie Duplantis and Emily Ougel, both of Houma, were recognized as the top “ChiliHead” employees for generating the most donations for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital’s “Create A Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer” campaign.
