Share Our Strength, the leading organization working to end childhood hunger in America, will hold its second annual Great American Dine Out on Sept. 20-26 in cities across the United States. The Great American Dine Out is a week-long program that raises money to help feed the more than 12 million children at risk of hunger in U.S. communities.
Thousands of restaurants across the country, from fine dining to quick-service chains, are registered to participate by donating a portion of proceeds from the week, creating special menu items or selling promotional coupons to generate extra sales. And millions of consumers play a vital role in this initiative; their choice to "dine out" at participating restaurants is the key to the program's success.
Participating fast casual restaurants include:
- Bruegger's Bagels
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Corner Bakery Cafe
- Dave & Buster's
- McAlister's Deli
- Raising Cane's
- Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill
Restaurants can register to participate at the Share Our Strength Web site.
The first Great American Dine Out raised more than half a million dollars and with help from consumers nationwide, the 2009 Great American Dine Out hopes to surpass that total this year. Participating restaurant can be found at GreatAmericanDineOut.org and follow the "Find a Restaurant" link.
This year, Food Network star Aaron McCargo Jr. is the national spokesman for the Great American Dine Out. McCargo is the 2008 winner of The Next Food Network Star and host of his own Food Network Show, Big Daddy's House. In honor of the Great American Dine Out, he will kick off the week-long event with a special episode of "Big Daddy's House" Sept. 20 at 1:30 Eastern and Pacific time on the Food Network.
Participating restaurants that raise money during the Great American Dine Out and send it in to Share Our Strength by Nov. 20, 2009, will be eligible to win a behind-the-scenes tour of the Food Network studios and kitchen in New York City. The tour will be awarded to one multi-unit operator, one franchisee and one independent operator and will include the tour, lunch with executives from Food Network, Share Our Strength and the National Restaurant Association, sponsor of the Food Network tour, as well as airfare, hotel and transfers.
