Magical Dining Month sets a donation record

Magical Dining Month generated $208,620 for charity — the highest amount raised in the event’s 12-year history, Visit Orlando announced Thursday.

The agency released the number during its annual meeting in front of more than 1,000 elected officials, hospitality leaders and others in the tourism industry at the Hilton Orlando.

“This program grows more and more successful every year,” said Don Engfer, a senior vice president at the Tishman Hotel Corp. and the chairman of Visit Orlando’s board of directors.

A dollar from every meal served during the promotion at 118 restaurants went to local nonprofits.

Last year, 96 local restaurants participated in the event, which raised $195,125 for the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

The money will go to two charities this year for the first time — Freedom Ride, which offers horseback riding as a form of therapy, and BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation, an organization that works with children who have cancer.

With its half, Freedom Ride plans to build a covered arena for participants to ride in during the hot summer months, the organization’s leader said at the meeting.

BASE Camp said it could provide 25 more children who have recurring cancer $500 wishes and serve more meals at hospitals.

Magical Dining Month faced challenges this year because “of an uninvited guest named Hurricane Irma,” Engfer told the group gathered.

Theme parks shut down in September for two days because of the storm. Some businesses dealt with power outages. Many potential Magical Dining eaters were more concerned about clearing fallen debris and waiting for their routines to get back to normal than going out to eat.

Visit Orlando announced it would extend Magical Dining Month by an additional 11 days to Oct. 12 as a result.

“We all appreciated the extra days after enduring Hurricane Irma,” Engfer said.

The first Magical Dining Month raised $16,000 for charity 12 years ago.

Restaurants throughout the region, from downtown to the theme parks, participate in Magical Dining and offer $35 prix-fixe three-course meals.