With an estimated 10,000 diners raising over $150,000 during the 2014 Dining Out for Life, in it's 12th year Nashville CARES has exceeded the one million dollar mark in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Middle Tennessee region.

In its 12th year, Dining Out For Life has now raised in excess of one million dollars to support the work of Nashville CARES in the Middle Tennessee region.

"Every year, we are astonished and humbled by the generous contributions made by the restaurant community, corporate sponsors and individual diners who support us by participating in Dining Out for Life" said Patrick Hamilton, Chief Development Officer for Nashville CARES. “The Nashville community continues to step up in the fight against HIV and allows us to continue to work towards an AIDS-free generation.”

Participating for the first time, Merchants was the top fundraising restaurant with over $4,000 raised for Dining Out For Life. Arnold Myint's restaurants blvd nashville and PM, in addition to his co-owned restaurant Suzy Wong's House of Yum, also owned by David Taylor, Keith Blaydes, Joe Brown and Todd Roman, raised over $10,000 during the event and collectively were the top fundraising restaurant group for the 2014 Dining Out For Life.

Returning Dining Out For Life Co-Chairs, Jay Matheney and Chris Chamberlain, welcomed Shamille Wharton, a local food blogger and Account Advisor with Emma, as a Co-Chair. The Co-Chairs, in addition to Bob Deal, Honorary Co-Chair, are excited about the outcome of this year’s record-breaking event.

“We are especially grateful to the restaurants that have been a part of Dining Out For Life Nashville since it began in 2003,” said Shamille Wharton. “Caffe Nonna, Jackson’s Bar & Bistro, Margot Café & Bar, Park Café, Provence Breads & Café Downtown Library and Hillsboro Village, Suzy Wong’s House of Yum, The Mad Platter, and Tin Angel have been tremendous allies in raising much needed funds to fight HIV. Their early and continued support has been vital to the annual success of the event.”

Sponsors for the 2014 event included: Presenting Sponsors—Embassy Dental and NPS Pharmacy; Gold Fork Sponsor—Bridgestone; Silver Spoon Sponsors—Downtown Subaru, HCA Tristar Health, Nashville Originals, and Vanderbilt University; and Bronze Knife Sponsors—BancorpSouth, The Dorothy Cate & Thomas Frist Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Fridrich, Pinson & Rothberg Insurance Agency, Kraft CPAs and Salas Law Group. Media Sponsors were Nashville SCENE and Out and About Nashville.

Participating restaurants 417 Union, Castrillo’s Pizza and 3 Crow Bar donated 100% of proceeds to Nashville CARES as a part of Dining Out For Life.