011013 Restaurants Donating Oct. 11 Proceeds

A nationwide coalition of 5,000 restaurants have designated today as Dine Out America day, with some proceeds going to Sept. 11 terror victims.

That medium-rare steak and fries you order at dinner tonight could help the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

A nationwide coalition of 5,000 restaurants - including some of the country's largest casual chains - has designated Oct. 11 as Dine Out America day. The nationwide fund-raising event will aid victims and families affected by the attacks one month ago.

Participating restaurants are donating up to 100% of their sales for the day - breakfast, lunch and dinner - to benefit the American Red Cross and its Liberty Disaster Relief Fund.

In New York City, more than 300 restaurants will contribute a share of their sales to Windows of Hope, a charity founded by the owner and the chef of Windows on the World, the famed restaurant that was on the top floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

The charity will help families of food service workers killed in the attacks, including the more than 70 Windows on the World workers who died. Hundreds of restaurants outside New York are also participating.

As well as raising money for the victims, the restaurants hope the initiatives will inspire more people to go out to eat. Restaurants in New York and Washington, in particular, have suffered a substantial decline in business since

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