April 24 is the National Dining Out For Life day around the country. Where will YOU dine?
What is Dining Out For Life? ¹
Dining Out For Life® is an annual fundraising event involving the generous participation of volunteers, corporate sponsors and restaurants. In exchange for their financial support, restaurants are listed in a city wide marketing campaign in an effort to increase customer traffic. In 1991 Dining Out For Life® was created by an ActionAIDS volunteer in Philadelphia. In 1993, ActionAIDS made it an international event offering licenses to AIDS Service Organizations around the country. Since Dining Out for Life International’s founding the event has grown throughout North America and is now produced in over 46 cities. The Board of Dining Out For Life® is constantly working to expand the number of licenses around the country, as well as to gain sponsorships that benefit the entire country. On average five to six cities a year are being added. More than 2,800 restaurants a year donate a portion of their proceeds from this one special night of dining to the licensed agency in their city. Over $3 million dollars a year is raised to support the missions of agencies throughout North America. With the exception of the annual licensing fee of $600, all money raised in these cities stays there. Who does Dining Out For Life benefit? The short answer is the HIV/AIDS community. The proceeds from the fundraising events go back to the HIV/AIDS service organizations in each local area. If you dine in Saint Louis, the proceeds benefit service organizations in Saint Louis. If you dine in Washington, DC, the proceeds benefit service organizations in Washington, DC. The time and money you invest in your local community remains in your community. However, I’m never known for my short answers. In a broader context, DOFL benefits everyone. HIV/AIDS service organizations obviously provide support to those who are HIV+ or have AIDS. Support takes on many dimensions in this arena; counseling to deal with the emotional aspects of the condition, legal assistance for issues that come up as a result of being HIV+ and medical services (quite often at a reduced fee). In addition, they work to educate the general public about HIV (that is a BIG task) and prevention. They provide accessible HIV testing and counseling for those unsure of their status. They work with people in identified high-risk groups in an effort to curb the rate of new infections in those populations. In some fashion, the work of HIV/AIDS service organizations benefit everyone. By extension, Dining Out For Life, as an event that supports local HIV/AIDS service organizations around the country (and Canada), can be said to help everyone as well. So on April 24, choose participating restaurants and pick up breakfast, order in lunch and go out to dinner. Help yourself! To find a restaurant in your city, go to Dining Out For Life – National. If you live in the Saint Louis area, go to Dining Out For Life – Saint Louis. ¹
Information from Dining Out For Life website