Chili's restaurants back out from Planned Parenthood fundraiser after receiving complaints
Chili's restaurants in Kentucky and Indiana have canceled a Planned Parenthood fundraiser after complaints from pro-life advocates.
Earlier this week, Planned Parenthood posted a promotional code that could be used to request Chili's to donate 15 percent of the pre-tax meal purchase to the abortion organization, Life News reported.
According to the image posted by Planned Parenthood, the voucher can be used at Chili's locations that are participating in the give back program, and it is valid whether the food is purchased for dining in at the restaurant or for takeaway. The voucher indicated that the restaurant will donate 15 percent of the meal purchase to Planned Parenthood between now and the end of March.
On Thursday, Chili's announced that the Planned Parenthood fundraiser has been canceled. The restaurant chain stated that the decision to participate in the fundraiser was made by a local franchise partner, not the national corporate office.
"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 said in a statement.
"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," it added.
This was not the first time a Chili's restaurant attempted to participate in a fundraising campaign for Planned Parenthood.
In 2011, a Chili's restaurant in California launched a fundraiser for the abortion organization, but it was eventually canceled after it received complaints from pro-life advocates. The management received numerous calls from members of the Sacramento community who expressed their concern about the restaurant making a donation to Planned Parenthood.
"The event was canceled after hearing growing concerns from our guests," said a spokesman for Chili's parent company, Brinker International, Inc.
Although the fundraiser was canceled, the restaurant located at Truxel Road still made a $200 donation to Planned Parenthood Mar Monte's Sacramento chapter, as compensation for the last minute cancellation.