Dining Out For Life

Written By: - NONE - | Issue: 2018/04 - April

The 16th annual Dining Out For Life benefit will take place on Thursday, April 26, throughout Western North Carolina. 

On that day, over 100 locally-owned restaurants will generously donate 20 percent of their sales to support the mission of WNCAP, the Western North Carolina AIDS Project.  There will be an intense marketing campaign, utilizing social media, print ads, and radio and television promotions to encourage everyone in the community to dine out for a good cause.

“Dining Out For Life makes HIV/AIDS advocacy extremely accessible to the public,” says WNCAP Executive Director Brodderick Roary.  “Not only does this event raise a lot of money for HIV prevention and treatment, it raises a lot of awareness, too.” 

The funds raised during Dining Out For Life directly support WNCAP’s mission of preventing new cases of HIV in Western North Carolina and providing compassionate care to those in our region already living with HIV/AIDS.

Dining Out For Life takes place in 55 cities across the U.S. and Canada and has raised over $35 million for AIDS Service Organizations like WNCAP.  The Asheville DOFL event is extremely successful, ranking fifth in the nation in dollars raised.  Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, restaurants, and diners, last year WNCAP raised over $160,000 for HIV prevention and care in Western North Carolina.  It was also voted Best Fundraising Event in The Mountain Xpress “WNC Best Of” for the past four years.

WNCAP assembles a team of over 250 enthusiastic volunteers to help support Dining Out For Life. 

“We work hard to recruit dependable community volunteers to serve as ‘Ambassadors’ during each meal shift at all of our Participating Restaurants,” explains WNCAP Community Resource Coordinator Chris Winebrenner.  “The Ambassador’s role is to invite family, friends, and colleagues to come out to eat at their assigned restaurant.  Volunteer Ambassadors will greet diners, thank them for supporting the event and offer up extra donation envelopes which will enter diners into a raffle for one of three great grand prizes.  Simply by donating a few hours at their favorite participating restaurant, Ambassadors are able to make a crucial difference in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in our community.” 

If you’d like more information about becoming an Ambassador, please email Chris at [email protected] or visit wncap.org/DOFL-2018.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 26, and make your reservations today for Dining Out For Life.  Simply dine out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or all three!) and you just may save a life.  To find out more about the event and to see the list of 2018 Participating Restaurants, visit wncap.org/DOFL-2018.