Over seventy area restaurants will participate in Nashville CARES annual one-day celebration of food, friendship and fundraising April 19. Since it started in 2003, Dining Out for Life has raised more than $1.1 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Middle Tennessee.

Most restaurants taking part in the fundraiser this year are donating between 30 and 50 percent of their sales for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner to Nashville CARES. Castrillo's Pizza (Inglewood and Sylvan Park locations), and 417 Union will donate 100% of proceeds. Epice and Kalamatas will each donate 75%.

To get involved, all you have to do is gather your family, friends or coworkers and head to a local participating restaurant. To view a list of participating restaurants, visit www.DiningOutForLife.com/nashville/restaurants/

The 2016 co-chairs are Dale Levitski and Keith Hinkle. Levitski became a household name when he was runner up on the third season of Top Chef. He is an even bigger hit locally as executive chef at popular hot spot Sinema and the casual dining hangout, The Hook. Hinkle is a native Nashvillian who’s championed LGBT causes for 15 years and is a Digital Platform Manager at McKinsey & Company.

"I have a long history, starting back in Chicago, with Dining Out For Life, and I am thrilled to participate in Nashville,” says Levitski. “I have many friends living with the disease that motivates my support within Middle Tennessee and beyond. As a member of the restaurant community, I do my part to help raise funds for HIV education and prevention, especially among high risk populations. Our efforts will diminish the stigma that still surrounds HIV and help those living with the disease live long, healthy lives. I truly believe in Nashville CARES and am proud to support them through Dining Out For Life.”

“I am thrilled to take part in this community-wide event,” says Hinkle. “The support and generosity of Nashville’s restaurants make this a fun and unique event to take part in. We are grateful so many eateries open their doors to Nashville CARES.”

Although a national event, Nashville CARES holds the only Dining Out For Life event in Middle Tennessee. For one day of the year, we encourage Nashville to Dine Out and Fight HIV/AIDS! All proceeds support the Nashville CARES mission to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee.

“Dining Out For Life is one of Nashville CARES’ most successful events because it is so easy for people to participate,” says Doug Alexander, Nashville CARES’ Chief Development Officer. “All you have to do is dine out at a participating restaurant and a portion of your bill will be donated to CARES.”