Chili’s restaurants has cancelled a Planned Parenthood fundraiser that was being held at locations across two states after pro-life people complained.
In an exclusive report a LifeNews.com yesterday, Chili’s restaurants in two states were coming under fire from pro-life advocates for giving 15% of patron’s meal purchases to the Planned Parenthood abortion business.
Earlier this week the Planned Parenthood abortion business affiliate in Indiana and Kentucky posted a promotional code its supporters could use to request that Chili’s donate 15% of the pre-tax meal purchase to benefit the abortion corporation.
According to the image the abortion company posted, its supporters can bring the voucher to any of the identified Chili’s locations participating in the give back program. The voucher is good whether people purchasing food at Chili’s dine in the restaurant or order food to go. According to the voucher, Chili’s will donate to Planned Parenthood 15% of the meal purchase between now and the end of March.
Today, the corporate office of Chili’s restaurants reached out to LifeNews.com with information that the Planned Parenthood fundraiser has been cancelled. Chili’s told LifeNews that the decision to engage in the Planned Parenthood fundraiser was made by a local franchise partner not by the national corporate office.
“At Chili’s, we have a longstanding history and take pride in giving back to unite our local communities together. We recognize every community is unique, and encourage our restaurant managers and franchise partners to support causes that help bring communities together and leave a positive impact on our valued Guests, neighbors, friends and families we serve,” Chili’s Grill & Bar told LifeNews.
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“Yesterday, we learned that an independent franchise partner of Chili’s in Indiana and Kentucky made the decision to host a Chili’s Give Back Event on behalf of Planned Parenthood Indiana and Kentucky. While our franchise partner had the best intentions; we have received growing feedback and concern from community members regarding the Give Back Event,” the restaurant chain continued. “This feedback does not reflect Chili’s focus on bringing communities together and the event was never intended to be viewed as a partisan event or political statement, therefore we, along with our franchise partner, have decided to cancel the event. ”
“We will more clearly communicate the focus of Chili’s charitable giving efforts, so that our restaurant managers and franchise partners can feel empowered to support local organizations that bring communities together,” Chili’s added.
This is not the first time that Chili’s has been involved in potential donations to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. A Chili’s restaurant in California initially set up a fundraiser for a local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic but eventually cancelled it after pro-life advocates complained.
According to a spokesperson for Chili’s parent company, Brinker International, Inc., “The event was canceled after hearing growing concerns from our guests.” Management of the Natomas Chili’s received numerous calls, as the Sacramento community expressed concerns about Chili’s restaurant donating money to Planned Parenthood, which performs over 330,000 abortions every year.
Wynette Sills, a local pro-life advocate who had been monitoring the situation, told LifeNews today, “The Chili’s fundraiser for Planned Parenthood was brought to my attention … the night before the event. By the next morning, Chili’s decided to cancel the Planned Parenthood fundraiser due to guest complaints.”
Although Chili’s Bar & Grill officially cancelled the Planned Parenthood fundraiser at their Truxel Road location, the restaurant did make a $200 donation to Planned Parenthood Mar Monte’s Sacramento chapter, as compensation for the last minute cancellation, Sills informed LifeNews.
Sills responded, “It is very disappointing that any amount of money went to support the abortion industry, but I imagine the $200 compensation was necessary to avoid litigation. Planned Parenthood is not accustomed to losing.”
According to a corporate statement from Chili’s at the time, “The manager at this location had the best of intentions when organizing this event, and deeply regrets upsetting our valued guests.”
ACTION: Contact Chili’s here to thank the restaurant for cancelling the fundraiser.
