Dickey's Barbecue Restaurant Franchise Owners in Minneapolis will donate 10 percent of proceeds from their grand openings in Rogers, Eagan, and Plymouth, Minnesota, to Children's Cancer Research Fund, along with all proceeds from the upcoming barbecue eating contest.

"We are excited about the grand opening and wanted to give back to a cause that is very much a part of our community," says Jason Stewart, the owner/operator of the Rogers location.

Children's Cancer Research Fund is headquartered in Minneapolis and pioneers efforts in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of childhood cancers at the University of Minnesota, a national leader in pediatric cancer research.

"We have partnered with Children's Cancer Research Fund in the past and could not be happier with our stores' decision in Minnesota. Partnering with a charity that promotes finding a cure for all types of children's cancer is an admirable and important endeavor that needs our support," says Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. CEO Roland Dickey.  "We ask all our owner/operators to take the value of community stewardship along with the barbecue to their neighbors and friends."

To help fuel donations for the national nonprofit, Dickey's Barbecue will host a barbecue eating contest challenging anyone to eat as many pulled pork sandwiches in six minutes as possible. On May 2, all seven area Dickey's locations, including the three locations hosting grand openings, will participate in the barbecue eating semi-finals. There is a $20 entry fee that will go directly to Children's Cancer Research Fund. The top eater from each location will go on to compete in the finals at the Dickey's in Plymouth on May 16 for cash prizes.