Chili’s Raises $24K to Help Fight Hunger

Chili’s raised over $24,000 in May to help end hunger through its eighth annual “Helping Waste Not Drive Hunger Out of Our Valley” fundraiser.
Proceeds will benefit Waste Not, a nonprofit that has been donating excess perishable food that would otherwise be thrown away from restaurants, resorts, caterers, grocers and various other food purveyors to over 100 agencies such as schools, after-school programs, daycare centers, rehabilitation centers, transition homes and senior facilities for three decades.
Last year, Waste Not transferred a record 2.9 million pounds of food, feeding 75,000 people.
“This was our eighth year of supporting Waste Not and it is a pleasure to play a part in this fundraiser each year,” said Nick Kretsedemas, Chili’s Arizona director of operations. “Their work is near and dear to our hearts. So for 10 days, we connect, serve, and give to create the best life for those most in need. We are grateful for the opportunity to not only help educate our communities about the dire issue of hunger in our Valley, but also involve our guests in Waste Not’s mission to daily answer the need.”
Since the partnership began, Chili’s has raised over $189,000 for Waste Not. The funds support Waste Not’s daily operations, which allow up to 20,000 pounds of food per day to go to Phoenix families in need.
From May 18 to May 28, guests who dined at Chili’s had the opportunity to donate 15 percent of their check, or make an additional donation amount of their choice. All 19 metro-Phoenix Chili’s locations participated, with the Happy Valley location being the top-fundraising restaurant for the second year in a row.