United Way for Dawson County plans to announce a list of restaurants participating in a fundraiser that gives back a percentage of money spent dining out Jan. 14.

According to local board member Kara Hewatt, “Dine the United Way” is a first for the Dawson County organization, which supports 13 health and human service agencies locally.

“United Way in other counties have tried it, and I don’t know if they’ve done it on this scale before, because we’re asking a lot of restaurants to participate,” Hewatt said.

She added that final numbers on participating restaurants have not yet come in, but the organization has asked 19 restaurants to donate between 10 and 25 percent of profits for the daylong effort.

“We’ll know in the next few days who will be participating,” she said, adding that the fundraiser is a win-win for United Way for Dawson County and local restaurants.

“It brings business to these restaurants,” she said. “We’re hoping to bring them support and advertising through this.

“It doesn’t just help United Way. People get to go out and enjoy themselves, have some family time together and support United Way at the same time,” she said.

Taylor Wallace, a fellow board member, agreed.

“We thought it would be a good way for restaurants to help out our campaign, which ends Jan. 31,” Wallace said, adding that the organization is “a little short” of the planned $100,000 community-wide goal.

For more information, visit www.unitedwayforsyth.com/dawson_county.php.