Thursday, April 28

The Western North Carolina AIDS Project’s (WNCAP) 14th annual Dining Out for Life® benefit takes place Thursday, April 28 in Asheville and the surrounding communities.

The acclaimed national fundraiser has raised more than 30 million dollars for AIDS service organizations across the country and in Canada since it began. Locally, more than 100 restaurants will generously donate 20% of their gross sales that day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and takeout. In return, there will be an intense marketing campaign to increase diner traffic in each restaurant though social media, numerous print ads and our friends at WLOS-TV, iHeartMedia, the Asheville Radio Group, and Public Radio.

“Dining Out For Life^® is an opportunity for everyone in the community to come out and support the cause,” says Jesse Oates Vest, Special Events Coordinator for WNCAP. “From the diners, to the restaurants, to the amazing volunteers, there are so many people involved to make the event a success.” The funds raised during Dining Out for Life directly support WNCAP’s work of HIV/AIDS education, prevention, advocacy, and case management care to those living with the disease.

WNCAP provides services to 18 counties across the region, and this year you can enjoy your meals at restaurants in 6 of those counties; Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania counties. Last year’s event raised the bar to a new record high, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, our amazing restaurants and extra donations from over 12,000 diners in WNC.

The Asheville fundraiser ranks 5th in the nation in actual dollars raised out of 55 cities producing the event, across the country and in Canada. It was also voted Best Fundraising Event in the “WNC Best Of” 2014 and 2015, another testament to our local support.

WNCAP has been busy putting together a team of over 250 enthusiastic volunteers needed to support this great event. “We have a person at each restaurant for each meal called Ambassadors” explains Chris Winebrenner, WNCAP’s Volunteer Coordinator. They have attended a training party for volunteers and been assigned to one of their favorite restaurants. It’s a fun day for volunteers as they encourage their friends, clients, family and co-workers to eat at their restaurant that day. Simply by donating a few hours of their time, they are making a difference in the life of people living with HIV/AIDS.”

If you would like more information about being an ambassador, please contact Chris at (828) 252-7489 or www.wncap.org/dofl.

Mark your calendars, check out this year’s Participating Restaurants and make your reservations today for Dining Out for Life^® 2016 and you just might help save a life. DOFL raises much needed AIDS awareness and serves as reminder that our community is still being affected by HIV.

If You Go: Dining Out for Life® takes place Thursday, April 28. A celebration of the day will be held at O.Henry’s in downtown Asheville. The official DOFL “After Party” will begin at 7 p.m. and feature top live entertainment and a live DJ – dance the night away until 2 a.m. For more information, and alist of participating resaturants, please visit www.wncap.org/dofl.