Sizzle Dining exceeds 100,000-meal goal in milestone 10th year, raises record $105,655 to benefit Blessings in a Backpack SWFL

Sizzle Dining, Southwest Florida’s premier culinary fundraiser, surpassed its ambitious goal of selling 100,000 meals during its monthlong dining event, generating a record $105,655 donation for Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida and delivering the most successful fundraising campaign in the event’s 10-year history.

Participating restaurants from Marco Island to Babcock Ranch sold 105,655 meals throughout September, with $1 from every meal benefiting Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida, which provides weekend meals to elementary school children facing food insecurity. The total shattered the previous record of 87,483 meals sold in 2025 by more than 18,000 meals and marked the first time Sizzle Dining expanded to span the entire month of September.

In addition to contributing through meal sales, several restaurants made additional gifts to amplify their impact. Buck & Rider, the highly anticipated seafood restaurant opening soon in Naples, was eager to make a positive impact on the community before even opening its doors. Demonstrating that commitment, the restaurant generously donated $766, an amount representing the average number of Sizzle meals sold per participating restaurant.

Meanwhile, Bone Hook Restaurant and Brewery doubled its contribution by donating an extra $1 for each of the 313 meals it sold during Sizzle Dining, increasing its total gift to $626.

“People told me selling 100,000 meals was a crazy goal,” said Guy Clarke, executive director of Sizzle Dining. “But Southwest Florida showed up and proved otherwise. Together, diners and restaurants sold more than 105,000 meals, creating a record $105,655 donation that will help feed local children who might otherwise go hungry on weekends. For an event that started with just 26 restaurants in Naples, this is an incredible testament to the generosity of our community.”

Participating restaurants saw the benefits, too.

“We are extremely pleased with this year’s results,” said Youssef Oualidi, director of food and beverage at La Playa Club. “The program helped provide valuable work opportunities for our employees during the slowest month of the year, while also making a meaningful impact on families in need throughout our community.”

Since it began as Naples Restaurant Week in 2016, Sizzle Dining has sold more than 530,000 meals. Blessings in a Backpack has received more than $340,000 from the event since becoming its charity of choice in 2021.

“A gift like this changes what Friday looks like for thousands of kids in our community. For a lot of these children, the food bag they take home on Friday is what carries them through the weekend until they’re back at school on Monday,” said Tony Ceresoli Sr., managing director of Blessings in a Backpack. “Every diner who sat down for a Sizzle meal and every restaurant that signed on helped make sure more local kids have food at home this school year. We can’t thank Guy and the Sizzle Dining community enough.”

During the 2025-26 school year, Blessings in a Backpack’s Southwest Florida chapter served 31 school programs, fed about 8,000 children every Friday and distributed 256,000 weekend food bags. These achievements were made possible by the collective generosity of donors and community partners throughout the region, with Sizzle Dining’s annual contribution proudly among them.

For more information on Sizzle Dining, visit SizzleDining.org.

About Sizzle Dining
Now celebrating its 10th year, Sizzle Dining is Southwest Florida’s premier culinary event, bringing together restaurants across Collier and Lee counties each September for a monthlong celebration of specially priced, multicourse dining experiences. For every Sizzle Dining meal sold, participating restaurants donate $1 to benefit Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding food-insecure elementary school children on weekends. Since its founding as a 509(a)(2) nonprofit, Sizzle Dining has grown from an eleven-day event to a full month of participation, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children while generating an estimated $30 million in annual economic impact. For more information, participating restaurant listings or to sign up, visit SizzleDining.org.