More than 8,000 other retail locations joining national partners in effort to raise $5 million National partners from the 17th annual Halloween Promotion benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R) were in Memphis today to celebrate raising more than $2.4 million to help the hospital in its fight against childhood cancer.

Companies represented at today's recognition ceremony included Buffalo Wild Wings, Casey's General Stores, Fox & Hound Restaurant Group and Champps Entertainment, Inc., Hess, and TravelCenters of America. These partners accounted for more than 4,000 retail locations nationwide that participated in the Halloween Promotion; collectively they generated nearly half of the Halloween Promotion's 2008 fundraising goal of $5 million.
MillerCoors adopted the St. Jude Halloween Promotion as its official national Halloween project in 1994. Since the program began in 1992, MillerCoors, its distributors and retailers have raised millions of dollars for the children of St. Jude.

"MillerCoors is proud to support this fundraiser and partner with St. Jude in saving children's lives," said Bryce McTavish, vice president of retail marketing at MillerCoors.

During the month-long Halloween Promotion, participating businesses across the country encouraged consumers to make a $1 donation to St. Jude to support its groundbreaking research and lifesaving care for kids battling catastrophic childhood diseases. In return for the contribution, the donors wrote their names on pumpkin-themed pinups, which the establishment displayed throughout the month of October.

"We couldn't be more thankful for the success of the St. Jude Halloween Promotion," said David L. McKee, chief operating officer and interim CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "We are so grateful to the many businesses and customers who are helping to make a difference for our precious patients. It is inspiring to see these companies join together to raise the money St. Jude needs to continue its lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving the lives of children in communities everywhere."

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. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world.

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 because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization.

For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.