For many families, dining out is about avoiding mealtime prep and clean-up or trying new dishes that you normally wouldn’t whip up at home. On Thursday, May 2, families can dine out for a good cause at 230 participating metro Denver restaurants and benefit the local nonprofit Project Angel Heart.

In March 2019, Project Angel Heart’s Dining Out for Life program celebrated its 25th anniversary. Over the past 25 years, the program has raised nearly $6.2 million to help Project Angel Heart prepare and deliver medically-tailored meals specifically for clients living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other life-threatening illnesses. In Colorado, Project Angel Heart, prepares and delivers more than 385,000 meals to an estimated 3,000 people per year.

On May 2, all participating Dining Out for Life restaurants will donate 25 percent of food sales, and more than 20 percent will also donate 25 percent of bar sales. Diners will also be entered into a drawing to win a $2,500 gift card from King Soopers.

“Our local restaurant community is incredibly generous, making it so that all diners have to do to support a great cause is show up and enjoy,” said Amy Daly, director of marketing and communications at Project Angel Heart.

This year’s participating restaurants include family-friendly spots and date night favorites, including Ace Eat Serve, Julep, Señor Bear, Ash’Kara, all Anthony’s Pizza locations, all Denver Biscuit Company locations, Oblio’s Pizzeria, both Punch Bowl Social locations, three Sam’s No. 3 Diners, both Steuben’s locations, and Sweet Action Ice Cream, among others.

Need to Know: Check out all of the 200-plus restaurants participating in Project Angel Heart’s Dining Out for Life.