Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Introduces 'U-ACT Champion Program' to Middle Schools and Junior Highs Across the U.S.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Introduces 'U-ACT Champion Program' to Middle Schools and Junior Highs Across the U.S.

Program places value on being kind to others; Participating schools to compete for $20,000 Grant

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO, September 05, 2007 /PRNewswire-/-- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) today announced the national launch of its U-ACT™ Champion Program, a character-building initiative specifically designed for middle and junior high schools, for the 2007-2008 academic year. According to a recent national survey conducted by the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, 13 percent of students in grades six to ten reported bullying others and 11 percent reported being the target of bullies. U-ACT, which stands for 'Unbridled Acts,' aims to inspire and energize students to create a sense of neighborliness inside and outside of their school; emphasize the value of being kind to others; and encourage individual students and schools to demonstrate 'Unbridled' kind acts in their schools and local communities. The Champion school will be rewarded with a $20,000 grant.

The U-ACT Champion Program was originally launched in 2005 as a pilot program in Colorado junior and middle high schools. The program is based on Red Robin's core value where team members perform random acts of kindness and go above and beyond to help restaurant guests and other team members. Through the U-ACT Champion Program, Red Robin hopes to help eliminate negative, bullying behavior by encouraging students to participate in school-wide programs that emphasize being kind to others.

"We are pleased with the enthusiastic response we have received for the U-ACT Champion Program from schools in Colorado and are excited to share our Unbridled philosophy with students in grades six to eight nationwide," said Kim McBee, Red Robin vice president of marketing. "We look forward to seeing how students accept this challenge and make a positive impact in their schools and surrounding communities this academic year."

Participants in the U-ACT Champion Program will be required to implement activities inside and outside their schools that demonstrate how they are bringing the 'Unbridled' philosophy – engaging in acts of kindness – to life. Examples could include hosting a special community fundraiser or recognizing the simple, everyday things students do to help each other succeed all year long.

At the end of the 2007-2008 academic year, participating schools will compete for the chance to be named the U-ACT Champion School, an Award of Excellence School or an Award of Merit School, which will earn the winning schools grants from $500 to $20,000. In addition, all winning schools will be invited to participate in a special school spirit night at their local Red Robin® restaurant.

The winning school for the pilot program during the 2006-2007 academic year was Oberon Middle School in Arvada, Colo. Motivated by U-ACT, Oberon Middle School implemented several student and staff recognition programs including Super Star Student Awards, Vikings of the Month and a TEACHER award. Other outreach efforts included a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims, food drives, and collecting coats and clothing during the holiday season.

"We would like to thank Red Robin for creating the U-ACT Champion Program. The program had such a positive impact on our school, we are continuing to implement 'Unbridled Acts' and recognize the efforts of both our students and staff in the new academic year," said Dana Ellis, principal at Oberon Middle School. "It's nice to know Red Robin is willing to contribute so much to help schools recognize their students' efforts."

For additional U-ACT program information and registration materials, please visit http://www.redrobin.com/home/uactprogram.
About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (www.redrobin.com), founded in 1969, is a casual dining restaurant chain that serves up wholesome, fun, feel-good experiences in a family-friendly environment. Red Robin® restaurants are famous for serving more than 22 high-quality gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries®, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages. There are more than 375 Red Robin® restaurants located across the United States and Canada, which includes both corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise or license agreements.

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