Miss Cook County Outstanding Pre-Teen aids St. Jude

Miss Cook County Outstanding Pre-Teen 2011 Arielle Christopher, 12, greeted guests and received donations to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at Chili’s Grill & Bar, 2220 Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates, Monday, Sept. 26.

Arielle served as a celebrity hostess at the restaurant from 6 to 8 p.m. to support Chili’s Donate Profits Day. Chili’s Grill & Bar selected Monday to donate 100 percent of its net profits to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a leading pediatric cancer treatment and research facility.

Christopher signed autographs and took pictures to help Chili’s raise donations. The fundraiser was part of Chili’s “Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer” campaign, which coincides with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, recognized in September.

“When I ask for donations, it means more than just asking for another dollar,” Arielle said. “It means that I’m asking for another dollar to save another life.”

Guests contributed to the fundraiser by simply dining at Chili’s. Their dining dollars went toward Chili’s pledge to raise $50 million in 10 years to support the St. Jude mission of finding cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Arielle enjoyed escorting guests to their tables. She also had the opportunity to take a picture with one young cancer survivor named Donnie, who was dining with his family that evening.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is based in Memphis, Tenn., and is internationally recognized. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment due to inability to pay. For details, visit www.stjude.org.

For additional information about the “Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer” campaign, visit www.createapepper.com.Arielle Christopher is a representative of the Miss Cook County Scholarship Program. She will travel in her year of service throughout Cook County to serve her community as a goodwill ambassador. Her platform is to support the needs of children from low-income families through community service.For information about Miss Cook County Outstanding Pre-Teen 2011, visit www.misscookcounty.org or email misscookcopt1@yahoo.com.

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