Jake Owen

LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE DONATES $10,000 TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO ATLANTA
LongHorn’s Atlanta-Area Restaurants Join Together to Benefit BGCMA &
Host Charity Performance by Country Star Jake Owen

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 25, 2011) – In celebration of National Boys & Girls Club Week, LongHorn Steakhouse is partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to continue their mission of helping area children learn, grow and prepare for a bright and productive future.  From now until April 2, employees from 26 Atlanta-area LongHorn restaurants are volunteering their time to benefit local Boys & Girls Clubs.

To mark the beginning of this new partnership, this week LongHorn made a $10,000 donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and hosted a special concert by award-winning country music artist Jake Owen for more than 150 children at the Douglas County Boys & Girls Club. 

“LongHorn Steakhouse has been committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others since opening our first restaurant here more than 29 years ago, and we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta,” said John Alexander, senior vice president of operations for LongHorn Steakhouse.  “I’ve been proud to see our employees join together and devote their time to help the children of Boys & Girls Clubs, and it’s a rewarding experience for our restaurant teams as well.  We look forward to building on this relationship in the future and continuing our support of the Atlanta community.”

In addition, LongHorn Steakhouse President Dave George was named to the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta this month.

”We are so grateful for Longhorn’s support and service this week,” said Missy Dugan, Interim President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. “They took the opportunity to give back during National Boys & Girls Clubs Week and did it in a big way. Not only did they financially provide for children in their communities who need them most, they volunteered their time and energy with our kids and created awareness for youth in our communities.”

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO ATLANTA
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s mission is to provide a quality developmental program that empowers metro Atlanta youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to become productive adults. Through 26 Clubs in 11 metro counties, trained and professional staff serve more than 3,000 disadvantaged youth (ages 6-18) daily through programs that foster academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership development. BGCMA also has Camp Kiwanis, a 160-acre outdoor residence camp, and the Youth Art Connection (YAC), a gallery and workspace for young artists. In order to effectively serve those who need us most, BGCMA asks families to pay annual membership dues of only $35 per child and no child is turned away due to inability to pay. For more information, please visit www.bgcma.org.

ABOUT JAKE OWEN
RCA Nashville recording artist Jake Owen emerged as one of country’s hottest young talents with the 2006 release of his debut album, Startin’ with Me, and he’s built on that excitement with his latest album, Easy Does It, and a growing list of hits that includes five consecutive Top 15 singles with such songs as the self penned “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and “Eight Second Ride.”  A past ACM winner as Top New Male Vocalist, Owen has earned CMA, CMT, and GRAMMY award nominations while becoming a fan-favorite, appearing on such programs as Good Morning America and CMT Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, and touring with superstars like Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, and Carrie Underwood.  Owen will join Keith Urban on the U.S. leg of his “Get Closer 2011 World Tour.”  Jake is currently in the studio recording his third album, due for release later this year.  Keep up with all the latest news on Jake at www.jakeowen.net ,  www.myspace.com/jakeowen and  www.twitter.com/jakeofficial.

ABOUT LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
LongHorn Steakhouse opened its first restaurant in Atlanta in 1981 and today operates more than 340 restaurants in 33 states.  LongHorn is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant operating company. For more information about LongHorn, please visit www.longhornsteakhouse.com.