The Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP) is revved up for the premier dining event of the year, Dining Out for Life®.

“In a city like Asheville, where festivals and events are embedded in the culture, Dining Out for Life^® is truly a “Festival for Life” states Chairman, Harry Brown. This largest fundraiser for WNCAP is now in its 12th year in this region and is part of a national initiative which has raised over 30 million dollars for AIDS service organizations across the country.

Here in Western North Carolina you have 115 choices of restaurants to choose from in 8 different counties including, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Madison.

WNCAP depends on the community’s support to make this a successful and profitable event. The participating restaurants will generously donate 20% of their daily sales to the agency. Volunteer Ambassadors will be assigned to each restaurant, whose primary role is to help fill the restaurant to capacity with their friends, families, colleagues and clients, making Dining Out for Life^® a “win-win” situation for everyone! And you have a great opportunity to win round trip airline tickets and other exciting prizes as our thank you for dining out.

Supporting a great cause has never been so easy and so much fun. No tickets or tuxedos required. Just simply dine out for breakfast, lunch or dinner and help current and future generations with much needed funding and AIDS awareness to prevent the further spread of HIV.

“The latest statistics for North Carolina show that the rate of new infections in the 13 to 25 age groups are staggering, says Jeff Bachar, WNCAP’s Executive Director. In addition, we are seeing so many individuals coming to us fairly sick because they have not yet come to terms with their illness. It is so important that we get the message out to the general public about the many services that WNCAP provides to help them live healthy, productive lives and events like Dining Out for Life^® help us spread the word”.

WNCAP has a team of over 250 enthusiastic and excited volunteers ready to greet you and help you enjoy your dining experience on April 24th and it doesn’t stop with the last meal. There will be an After Party for volunteers, restaurant staff, and diners at the Grove House featuring musical performances by Asheville’s most exciting swing group, the Rhythm Serenaders, followed by a DJ Dance Party until 2 a.m. The Grove House has generously waived the entrance fee, and the party is free of charge with 20% of all sales being donated to WNCAP.

Now is the time to make your reservations for the largest dinner party of the year. For more information, volunteer opportunities, and a list of participating restaurants visit www.wncap.org/dofl

If You Go: Dining Out for Life, Thursday, April 24. Visit www.wncap.org/dofl for more details and a full list of particpating restaurants.