Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining raised a record $306,772 for two nonprofits that help local children and families: the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Orlando and Lighthouse Central Florida.

The popular dining program ran six weeks this fall at 125 restaurants across Orlando, and one dollar from each meal raised funds for charity.

“This is one of the powerful ways we make a difference in our community,” said George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Thanks to the success of our partnerships with restaurant members, our impact has grown to new heights and, together, we are excited to make the largest donation in our history.”

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Orlando is a grassroots support network for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining will benefit the organization’s “Ending the Silence” program, which helps raise awareness and change perceptions among teenagers about mental health and suicide prevention.

“We are beyond thrilled with the result of Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining,” said Eric Welch, executive director of NAMI Greater Orlando. “With this donation, we’re going to reach more youth and families through educational programs than ever before.

Lighthouse Central Florida helps individuals with vision loss adjust to their reality with confidence. Proceeds from Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining will enable Lighthouse to expand its early intervention programs for children so they can adapt, integrate and enjoy active, productive lives.

“I can’t tell you how excited we were to be a beneficiary of Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining,” said Kyle Johnson, president and CEO of Lighthouse Central Florida. “It created funding for our children to integrate into the world with confidence and everyone who participated is going to be a part of their story … forever.”

Additional information about Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, including a list of restaurants that participated, is available at www.OrlandoMagicalDining.com.

About Visit Orlando

Visit Orlando is the official tourism association for the most visited destination in the United States, with representation in more than a dozen countries around the world. Visit Orlando, together with its 1,200 member organizations, represents the area's leading industry.