feature
Record number of restaurants to participate in Dining Out for Life
Published Thursday, 22-Apr-2010 in issue 1165
When the organizers of Dining Out for Life sat down to create their plans for this year’s event, they put forward a rather ambitious goal – to reach 100 participating locations.
With the event just in its fourth year, and with local businesses still facing a challenging economy, it was a daunting task to be sure. But because Dining Out for Life is such a feel-good event that benefits so many, they were able to reach that goal and this year will feature a record-breaking 100 participating restaurants, bars, coffee and desert shops.
Now, to truly make it a success, they need you to dine out.
An easy (and fun) way to make a difference
Dining Out for Life is one of the easiest ways to make a difference and support HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs. You simply get together with your friends, family members and/or co-workers on Thursday, April 29 and dine out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert, coffee or drinks (or all of the above) at any of the 100 participating locations throughout the San Diego area.
San Diego’s event is part of a one-day international fundraiser where nearly 3,000 restaurants in more than 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada donate a generous percentage of proceeds from the day’s sales to a local HIV/AIDS organization.
When you dine out in San Diego, the participating restaurants will contribute at least 25 percent of their sales from that day to HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs at The San Diego LGBT Community Center.
The full listing of participating locations is included in these pages, and the official Dining Out for Life San Diego Bar & Restaurant Guide is also available online at www.diningoutforlife.com/sandiego. You can use the guide – easily broken down by neighborhood – to help you plan a full day of Dining Out for Life. From La Jolla to Little Italy, from Kensington to Kearney Mesa or from South Bay to South Park, there is a place for you to dine out! Some of San Diego’s hottest restaurants and chefs are participating, so make sure you make your reservations now.
And, while all of the Dining Out for Life participants are incredibly generous, there are two locations that have committed to donating 50 percent of their day’s sales to this effort, Mariposa Ice Cream and West Coast Tavern.
Additionally, this year’s Dining Out for Life event offers an opportunity for one last dining experience at the legendary Busalacchi’s at their Fifth Avenue location. Busalacchi’s has been a participant in Dining Out for Life since the beginning of the San Diego event, and will be re-opening at their new location, in the same area sometime this summer.
And not to be left out, House Boi has also announced it will donate 25 percent of its sales on April 29th to The Center’s HIV/AIDS services. The men’s clothing and home décor store will be open from noon-9pm that day at its Hillcrest location, 1435 University Ave.
Dine Out, Fight AIDS!
All of the money raised from San Diego’s Dining Out for Life event will stay here in San Diego, and will benefit the HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs at The Center. HIV/AIDS education and prevention is woven into nearly all of The Center’s programs, from Latino Services to Youth Services to Behavioral Health.
The Center is often the first place people call to obtain accurate information about HIV/AIDS, and it is imperative that those callers are able to access prevention education, as well as comprehensive listing of referrals and resources, including information about testing sites (The Center is one of the largest HIV testing site in San Diego County), health care providers, benefits eligibility specialist, support groups and more.
The Center’s Behavioral Health Services is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS counseling in the county, and also offers counseling and therapy to individuals, couples and families impacted by HIV/AIDS, as well as support groups that deal specifically with issues related to HIV/AIDS.
The Center’s Youth Housing Project not only provides housing to formerly homeless youth, some of whom are HIV positive, but also provides health education to all residents, including HIV prevention information. Young people also have access to health education and HIV prevention resources at The Center’s Hillcrest Youth Center.
The Latino/a Services Program offers a broad array of culturally competent HIV/AIDS information and support, including case management, client advocacy, translation services, support groups, workshops, as well as information and referrals to additional services.
The Center’s Positive Action program is a unique prevention program for people who are living with HIV/AIDS to provide them with the information and resources to prevent the spread of HIV to others. Utilizing workshops, discussion groups and other educational forums, Positive Action is just one more way The Center works to ensure people have access to information to help prevent further infections.
Dining Out for Life Ambassadors still needed
Now, with 100 participating locations, Dining Out for Life needs more volunteers than ever. It’s not to late to join in the fun – call and sign up today!
Dining Out for Life Ambassadors invite everyone they know to dine at their location, during their shift, on Thurs., April 29. In addition to welcoming guests, Ambassadors serve a critical role in this important event by providing information about the need to support The Center’s HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs and encouraging diners to make an additional contribution to The Center’s efforts. And they have a great time doing it.
“Our volunteers and Ambassadors have truly made a difference in the success of this event,” said Donnie Luehring, The Center’s Dining Out For Life® event manager. “We still need friendly and outgoing people who want to be part of this incredible day to volunteer as Ambassadors.”
To sign up, contact Chelsea Cormier at 619-497-2920, ext. 247 or via e-mail at ccormier@thecentersd.org.
For more information about Dining Out for Life®, please contact Donnie Luehring at 619-692-2077, ext. 246 or dluehring@thecentersd.org. For more on the San Diego event, go to www.diningoutforlife.com/sandiego. You can also find Dining Out for Life San Diego on Facebook. For a complete list of participating restaurants, coffee houses, bars and nightclubs, visit http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/pdf/glt_feature_1165.pdf.
Facebook and TwEAT your “Dine Out” location on April 29th
Facebook Fan Page – Dining Out for Life San Diego
Twitter – DOFLSD
Post updates with your locations throughout the day on Thurs., April 29th.
“Feed” your whereabouts for breakfast, lunch and dinner and “TwEAT” about your day on Twitter.
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