BJ's Restaurants Gives Million Dollar Thank You to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at All Star Music Bash Hosted by Singer/Songwriter Richard Marx

BJ's Restaurants Gives Million Dollar Thank You to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at All Star Music Bash Hosted by Singer/Songwriter Richard Marx

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- BJ's Restaurants culminated its successful Thanks a Million campaign on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday at the All Star Music Bash hosted by Richard Marx. BJ's, a long-time supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, launched its Thanks a Million campaign in 2004 with the goal of raising $1 million for cystic fibrosis (CF) research and care. BJ's co-Chairman of the Board Paul Motenko presented the $1 million check to Richard Marx, who accepted it on behalf of the CF Foundation.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050207/DCM056 )

"As the father of a young woman with CF, I know only too well the importance of corporate philanthropy and how a business such as ours can make a difference in the lives of children and young adults with this disease," said Motenko. "I am proud of BJ's dedicated support of the CF Foundation and am grateful to all those who contributed to the success of the Thanks a Million campaign, especially our employees and our customers. I hope that we can continue to count on their support until this disease is defeated."

BJ's Restaurants is an ardent supporter of the CF Foundation's CF research and care programs through Cookies For Kids, a cause related marketing campaign in which it donates a portion of its Pizookie dessert sales to the CF Foundation. In addition, the proceeds from the fund-raising at the grand openings of every new BJ's location also are donated. The $1 million total donation was generated from these programs as well as donations from BJ's employees, vendors and guests.

CF is a genetic disease affecting tens of thousands of Americans. More than ten million Americans, or approximately one in 31 people, are unknowing carriers of the defective CF gene. This gene causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that leads to chronic and life-threatening lung-infections and impairs digestion.

"On behalf of the CF Foundation, I would like to express our gratitude to BJ's Restaurants. They are a truly outstanding partner in our mission to defeat this life-threatening disease," said Gary Greene, executive director of the Southern California Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "It is my hope that with their continued support and dedication and that of all our volunteers and donors, CF will one day soon stand for 'cure found.'"

The CF Foundation strongly believes that an investment in CF medical research is an investment in the future of all people with the disease. Currently, there are more than two-dozen potential therapies for CF in the CF Foundation's drug development pipeline, any one of which could have a profound effect on the length and quality of life of those with CF.

About The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis (CF) and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. For more information on CF and the CF Foundation, call (800) FIGHT CF or visit http://www.cff.org/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050207/DCM056
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

CONTACT: Allison Tobin, Director of Media Relations, of the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation, +1-301-841-2665, or atobin@cff.org

Web site: http://www.cff.org/


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