Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out(R) Returns September 20 - 26, 2009

Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out(R) Returns September 20 - 26, 2009

Participating Restaurants Are Eligible for Food Network Tour and Lunch

Food Network Star Aaron McCargo Jr., National Spokesperson, Kicks Off Event With Special "Big Daddy's House" Episode, Sunday, September 20 at 1:30 ET/PT

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each year, more than 12 million children in America worry about when their next meal will come. In response, SHARE OUR STRENGTH(R), the leading organization working to end childhood hunger in America, will hold its second annual Great American Dine Out(R) from September 20 - 26, 2009 in cities across the United States. The Great American Dine Out is a week-long program that raises money to feed kids at risk of hunger in our communities.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090831/DC68129 )

Thousands of restaurants across the country 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. 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.

Thousands of restaurants have already signed up for the 2009 Great American Dine Out including fine dining to casual eateries, chains to independent family-run operations. 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. To find a participating restaurant in your area, go to: GreatAmericanDineOut.org and follow the "Find a Restaurant" link.

This year, Food Network star Aaron McCargo, Jr. is the national spokesperson for the Great American Dine Out. Aaron 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," Sunday, September 20 at 1:30 ET/PT on the Food Network. Aaron teams up with a New Jersey chef whose restaurant is participating in the Great American Dine Out.

"Big Daddy's House" and the Great American Dine Out
Premiering Sunday, September 20th at 1:30pm ET/PT on the Food Network
Weeknight Feast

In honor of Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out, Big Daddy teams up with New Jersey Chef Jose Velez (Rod's Steak & Seafood Grille) to whip up a delicious feast fit for a king. His robust Roast Beef Strip Loin with Bourbon Mushroom Sauce pairs perfectly with two tasty sides: Stick-to-the-Ribs Barley and Currant Cake and brilliant Braised Kale with Toasted Almonds. Lastly, his Homemade Lemon Doughnuts make a great dessert or even next-day breakfast.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Food Network Studios and Kitchens

Participating restaurants that raise money during the Great American Dine Out and send it in to Share Our Strength by November 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 -- and airfare, hotel and transfers.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength(R) is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation(R), the nation's premier culinary benefit; Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale(R), a national grassroots effort; Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit(R), a touring dinner series; Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out(R), a week-long program involving thousands of restaurants nationwide; and Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline(R), a cooking-based nutrition education program. Visit Strength.org.

The 2009 Great American Dine Out is sponsored by Sysco, S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, Ecolab, the Food Network, USA Today and The National Restaurant Association.

For more information and to find a participating restaurant in your area,

please visit GreatAmericanDineOut.org.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090831/DC68129
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN10
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Share Our Strength

CONTACT: Theresa Burton of Share Our Strength, +1-202-478-6522, cell:
+1-202-230-2433, tburton@strength.org

Web Site: http://www.strength.org/
http://greatamericandineout.org/

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