BANGOR – The Texas Roadhouse restaurant opened its doors early to serve a special crowd. Manager Jason Dodson and his management team – Alison Daigle, Brian Baker, Mike LeClerc and managing partner Jim Fostum -initiated a fundraiser to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine before the restaurant’s grand opening.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a phenomenal charity,” Dodson said. “It is well-known nationally, but apparently not so much here. It covers so much area in Maine and there is such a large need.”

Dodson partnered with the staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters to invite select members from the community and neighboring businesses to support the cause. Texas Roadhouse donated a free meal to each guest, and the wait staff donated their tips to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Those who attended were provided opportunities to contribute to the program throughout the evening.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters benefit was part of a Texas Roadhouse tradition in which every new restaurant raises money for a local charity before its grand opening.

“We are becoming part of a new community,” Dodson said, “so we figured why not make our first few days important.”

“We were thrilled to be selected as the official designee of this pre-opening event,” Pat Saunders, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine director, said. “We have been quietly rebuilding the program in Greater Bangor for just over 18 months. This was the perfect opportunity to speak directly with folks from all over the region and tell them about the success of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring.”

The fundraiser held Aug. 26-27 raised $2,300 to help support the program, which last year provided more than 500 children with mentors throughout Penobscot, Hancock and Washington counties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine was founded in 1998 as a program of Downeast Health Services Inc. and is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. It is a member organization of the United Way of Eastern Maine.

The program is dedicated to providing children with caring mentors through its community-based and school-based programs in Hancock, Penobscot and Washington counties.

For information on how to become a Big or to support the program, call (800) 492-5550.

Texas Roadhouse also donated a portion of the proceeds to its company’s non-profit organization, Andy’s Outreach. The corporation started Andy’s Outreach to offer financial assistance to its employees in the event of hardship.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine officials said they wanted to thank Dodson and his management team, charitable staff and all the local patrons who generously supported the program during the pre-opening event.