Dining Out for Life Nashville: How Your Meal Can Make a Difference

By Lauren Means

Dining Out For Life (DOFL) returns to Nashville on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Benefitting Nashville CARES, their goal this year is to include more than 60 restaurants and raise more than $120,000. 

DOFL is an annual fundraising event held in many cities across North America to raise money for HIV/AIDS service organizations. The event originated in Philadelphia in 1991 when a volunteer for a local AIDS organization asked restaurants to donate a portion of their proceeds for a day to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. This first event raised $25,000 for local AIDS service organizations. By 1995, DOFL had expanded to 11 cities and raised over $400,000.

In 2001, DOFL became a national event, with over 3,000 restaurants in 60 cities participating and raising more than $4 million for AIDS service organizations.

Over the years, DOFL has continued to grow and evolve, with new cities joining the event and new partners and sponsors signing on to support the cause. In addition to raising money for AIDS service organizations, DOFL has also helped to raise awareness about the ongoing need for HIV/AIDS services and research.

Today, DOFL remains one of the largest and most successful fundraising events for HIV/AIDS service organizations and continues to make a significant impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Here in Middle Tennessee, local restaurants throughout the greater Nashville area participate by donating a minimum of 30% of all food sales during breakfast, lunch and/or dinner to Nashville CARES.

Now in its 21st year, this city-wide event has involved more than 20,000 diners, 80 volunteers and more than 80 Nashville area restaurants. With 40 restaurants already committed, the event is well on its way to meeting the goal of 60 participating restaurants.

For the most up-to-date list of participating restaurants, please visit diningoutforlife.com/nashville. If you’re unable to participate on May 17 and would like to contribute to Nashville CARES’s mission, you can do so by clicking the donate tab on their website. More information about Nashville CARES can be found on NashvilleCARES.org.

About Nashville CARES

Nashville CARES serves more than 50,000 Middle Tennesseans who are at risk for or living with HIV. Not only does Nashville CARES strive to eliminate HIV/AIDS, but it also provides essential health care and services to its numerous clients. 95% of every dollar raised goes directly to client services, including nutrition, transportation, housing & utilities, behavioral health and numerous other critical services to those who come to Nashville CARES for support. In addition, they recently opened My House Clinic, an inclusive primary care health center that also specializes in sexual health.