ABOVE: Photo via Dining Out for Life Tampa Bay.
TAMPA BAY | Dining Out for Life (DOFL) Tampa Bay will hold its 16th annual fundraiser April 29, returning closer to form in a benefit for Empath Partners in Care’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
DOFL has enlisted restaurants to donate a percentage of their sales on specific dates to nonprofits since 1991, raising roughly $4.5 million across the U.S. and Canada each year. More than $47,000 was raised locally for EPIC in 2019, while 2020’s COVID-conscious efforts brought in $28,000.
Last year’s diners were encouraged to order delivery or to visit their favorite restaurants to dine in, order takeout or to purchase gift cards and other promotional items. Nearly 40 locations participated but were not required to donate funds to EPIC.
“This is our chance to return the favor,” EPIC Special Events Coordinator Molly Robison explained at the time. “Our local restaurants are all hurting. Many of them have been with us since the beginning and this is our year to give back.”
Robison says that while last year’s outing didn’t raise as much for EPIC as traditional ventures had, the organization still considered it a success. They paired it with a well-attended online game night to bolster support.
“Participants went out, grabbed their meals and came home to join us,” she says. “Given that it was a COVID year and where restaurants were at the time, we were very pleased. The restaurants ended up donating $4,218, which was great.”
Among the donors were The Frog Pond, which has supported DOFL Tampa Bay since its inception by donating 100% of sales for the day from its Redington Beach location and 50% from its St. Pete Beach eatery. They did the same last year.
“We at The Frog Pond restaurants are glad to support the community as they have helped us get where we are today after 39 and 14 years established,” owners David Hitterman and Brian Calkins say. They’ll show their support again this year.
More than 40 locations throughout Clearwater, Dunedin, Gulfport, St. Petersburg and Tampa are expected to join them. They’ll offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, ice cream, cocktails and more via indoor and outdoor dining, takeout and delivery, with at least 15% of each check donated to EPIC.
“Sixteen years for any event is a long time,” EPIC Executive Director Joy Winheim says. “I think people are excited when Dining Out for Life comes around because it’s an excuse to go out to eat. It’s also an excuse to socialize with your friends, all in the name of doing something good for us.”
Fundraising will begin in earnest a day early with two DOFL Kickoff celebrations. On April 28, St. Petersburg’s CD Romas will offer its fan favorite Italian dishes from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., with 25% of sales benefiting EPIC. Tampa’s Brew Bus Brewing will hold its Patio Kickoff Party from 4-10 p.m., donating 20% of their “ultimate craft beer experience” to the cause.
Restaurants and bars which may be interested in participating this year still have time to do so. Locations throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties can contact Robison by April 22 to ensure they’re included.
“We’re so thankful to the restaurants for being willing to open up to us this year,” Robison says. “Not only for the more traditional dining in event, but to open up their patios and expand the opportunity to takeout and curbside. They’re willing to help us meet people where they’re comfortable to accommodate them and work together to make this happen.”
“We’re very COVID conscious this year,” Winheim adds. “If you’re not comfortable going out to eat, we understand. You can do takeout, you can do curbside, you can dine in if you’re comfortable. I’m excited that this year we’re going to be able to do it – and we’re going to do it well.”
DOFL 2021 will be held April 29. For more information about the April 28 kickoff events and for a list of participating Tampa Bay locations, visit DineTB.org. Contact Molly Robison at 727-523-3341 or MollyRobison@EmpathHealth.org to join as an ambassador or vendor and learn more about EPIC at MyEPIC.org.
