11.27.2007 - 12:07pm ET

(CSRwire) CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- T.G.I. Friday's(R) restaurants today announced it has formed a national partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Friday's(R) has pledged $250,000 by December 2008.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071127/LATU191)

"T.G.I. Friday's is proud to name the Make-A-Wish Foundation our 'charity of choice'," said Mike Archer, president and chief operating officer of T.G.I. Friday's USA, who presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation a $26,000 check at the recent opening of Friday's 600th U.S. restaurant at NorthPark Center in Dallas, where Friday's celebrated the 25th anniversary of the foundation's North Texas chapter.

"We are honored that T.G.I. Friday's is joining with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to support our mission and helping us bring hope, strength and joy to courageous wish children," said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. "With the dedicated support of T.G.I. Friday's and its employees nationwide, we will be able to help these children just be kids again as we grant their heartfelt wishes."

Under the partnership, funds raised by T.G.I. Friday's USA and the Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Support Center will benefit the world's largest wish-granting organization. The first joint initiative of the partnership is fundraising in conjunction with the T.G.I. Friday's World Bartender Championship, an annual event involving 8000 of Friday's(R) famed mixologists from 58 countries who compete for the title of "Greatest T.G.I. Friday's Bartender in the World."

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., the parent company of TGI Friday's Inc. and Pick Up Stix, is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson, a world leader in the hospitality, travel and marketing industries. As of November 2007, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide owns, operates, franchises or licenses more than 1,000 restaurants in 58 countries. For more information on the brands, visit www.fridays.com and http://www.pickupstix.com.

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