DJAMILA NOELLE GROSSMAN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Retailing and consumer sciences junior Jessica Long sips on her drink between eating fries at Frog & Firkin yesterday. The restaurant is one of more than 35 restaurants in the Tucson area that will donate up to 20 percent of today's income to the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault.

Students have a chance today to dine out and do something more than fill up their stomachs.

The ninth annual Dine Out for Safety is a community outreach event comprising more than 35 eateries in the Tucson area, which will donate up to 20 percent of the day's total revenue to the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault.

Raffle tickets will also be sold for prizes like gift certificates, resort and spa stays or free airplane tickets.

"It's important to support battered women because it's an unfortunate circumstance that happens when people get out of control and you have to do all you can to prevent it," said Michael Whinery, the manager of Frog & Firkin, 874 E. University Blvd.

Brad Freeborn, the manager of Penguin's Frozen Yogurt, 825 E. University Blvd., said the shop participated last year and wanted to continue helping again this year.

"It's just a cool way to help out," Freeborn said.

Whitney Morgan, SACASA senior development officer said the money raised will help provide services to sexual assault victims and their families, as well as support the community education and outreach efforts in Tucson schools.

The center provides 24-hour sexual assault crisis hotline services, mental health counseling for sexual assault victims, education and outreach programs, hospital advocacy, forensic medical exams and bilingual services, according to their Web site.

This year, event participants hope to raise $130,000, up from last year's total of $126,000, according to a press release.

But meeting this goal will require the support of UA students, Morgan said, who also noted how the donated proceeds could directly benefit their peers.

"I would encourage students to participate because this is a particularly relevant issue for the college population," Morgan said. "One in four college-age women will be the victim of sexual assault in their lifetime."

Colleen Hartwell, a psychology freshman, said she thinks the event will not only increase funds for the crisis center, but it will also enhance student awareness about sexual assault.

"Sexual assault shouldn't even be a part of our society," Hartwell said. "There needs to be a greater awareness of the problem so we can combat it."

Katie Weber, a communications freshman, said she is pleased to see the UA community coming together for a good cause.

"It's nice to know that our community is making such as effort to work against such a big problem on college campuses," Weber said.