During a members’ luncheon, Visit Orlando announced a record-breaking donation raising $352,218 to support local charities through Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health. This marks a 30% increase compared to 2023, surpassing the program’s previous record set in 2020. 150 restaurants participated by offering $40 and $60 pre-fixe menus with $1 and $2 from every meal going directly to local charities.
“This year’s program was our largest to date, with 150 restaurants participating, including 25 new venues and nine MICHELIN Guide honorees—and the results are evident with the donation raised. We are deeply grateful to all diners and restaurant partners whose contributions are transforming lives and helping build a sustainable future in Central Florida.” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.
Since launching the charity fundraising component in 2009, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has raised over $2.9 million. This year’s primary beneficiary, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, is helping families recover from hardship while promoting environmental sustainability. They have repurposed over 160,000 mattresses, diverting nearly 4 million cubic feet of waste from landfills.
Four Outstanding Restaurants Recognized as 2024 Top Performers
- Summer House on the Lake – Top performing new restaurant: $40 menu
- Chayote Barrio Kitchen – Top performing new restaurant: $60 menu
- The Oceanaire Seafood Room – Largest increase in meals served year over year
- Seasons 52 – Orlando – Top performing restaurant overall
To expand the impact of this year’s donation, Visit Orlando awarded $3,000 to nonprofits in each of Orange County’s six commission districts. These organizations were selected for their creative approaches to fostering thriving and sustainable communities—the theme of this year’s charity efforts.
- Hope Along the Way – Supporting families through life’s challenges.
- New Image Youth Center – Empowering youth with educational resources.
- Next Step Foundation – Promoting recovery and wellness in the community.
- United Against Poverty – Offering tools to improve lives and livelihoods.
- WASH Foundation – Advocating for clean water and sustainable practices.
- CDA “WE Care” – Building strong, compassionate communities.
“We’re truly thankful to our local community and visitors from beyond Orlando for supporting these nonprofits through their participation in Magical Dining. With this record-breaking year, we’re especially excited to continue seeing how this extraordinary program’s impact enhances the health and wellness of our community.” said Erick Hawkins, chief administrative officer at Orlando Health and Visit Orlando board member.
For more information about Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, visit OrlandoMagicalDining.com.
About Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States, Theme Park Capital of the World® and No. 1 meeting destination in the country.
