After a successful second year last spring Nashville CARES' newest event, Dining Out for Life, returns Tuesday, March 29, 2005.

Eat to Your Heart's Content is the theme for this year's event, which is presented by Alfred Williams & Co., and raises money to support the HIV prevention education and support services provided by Nashville CARES.  

CMT's Katie Cook and Capitol Recording Artist Jamie O'Neal have signed on to be this year's celebrity chairs for the event. Nashville food celebrity Kay West, restaurant critic for The Nashville Scene, returns as event chair. An estimated 7,000 diners participated in the 2004 event, held at 54 restaurants around the Nashville Metro area, far exceeding organizer expectations for second-year attendance. This year organizers have recruited 60 restaurants. Out & About Newspaper is a sponsor of the event.

Participating is simple. Diners choose a restaurant from a list of participants and dine out, knowing that a portion of their bill will go to support Nashville CARES programs for HIV prevention and services to those living with HIV/AIDS. A list of restaurants is available online at www.diningoutforlife.com.

Many restaurants reported they were full to capacity last year, with more than $42,000 being raised to support Nashville CARES. This year the event is anticipated to raise $55,000, and early reservations are suggested.

Those interested in hosting a restaurant are encouraged to contact Development Associate Kate Haygood at Nashville CARES (615-259-4866). Restaurant hosts are asked to invite a minimum of 20 friends and family to dine out at their assigned restaurant on the night of the event.

"I could not be more delighted with the results," said Nashville CARES Director of Development T. Allen Morgan. "The response to this event has been phenomenal, both in terms of numbers of diners participating and funds raised. We're very excited about this year's event."

This year's event will also feature a prize drawing for two domestic airline tickets, courtesy of Southwest Airlines. The drawing is open to all Dining Out For Life diners filling out a donation envelope. A donation is not required to enter the drawing.

Dining Out for Life is a well-known and popular event that raises more than $1,500,000 each year to fund education on the prevention of HIV infection and support services for those affected by HIV/AIDS in 33 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The funds raised here will stay in Middle Tennessee and be used to support the work of Nashville CARES. Nashville CARES is Middle Tennessee's leading community-based AIDS service organization.