Dine out, do good

Pencil June 15 into your calendar; it's Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 11th annual Dine Out for Kids. Participating restaurants donate a portion of their day's gross sales to CIS, which works to help at-risk children succeed in school and life by connecting community resources with schools. It currently provides services to 5,000 students a year in 44 public schools, and last year, 97 percent of the kids enrolled in CIS stayed in school. (Info: www.cischarlotte.org.)

This year, 66 restaurant locations have joined in (some of the following have more than one site, while not all locations of some of these are participating; check the website for more specifics):

Alexander Michael's, Arthur's, Big Daddy's Burger Bar, Bonterra, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, Brio, Brixx, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cantina 1511, Don Pedro, Eddie's Place, restaurants at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Harper's, Johnny Burrito, M5, Mama Ricotta's, McAlister's Deli, The Melting Pot, Mert's Heart & Soul, Mimosa Grill, Nothing But Noodles, Pewter Rose, Quiznos, Showmars, Sonny's, Upstream and Village Tavern.