Local restaurants donate to AIDS fundraising

By Lauren McGlone
Senior Staff Writer
April 18, 2007

If anyone finds studying for finals to be stressful and overwhelming, the chance to get off campus and dine out for a good cause has arrived. Tuesday, April 26 presents Dining Out for Life in Philadelphia at over 200 restaurants in the Delaware Valley.

The annual event was started in 1990 by ActionAIDS, an organization based in Philadelphia, which works with those individuals living with or affected by HIV or AIDS. According to its Web site, ActionAIDS “works to sustain and enhance quality of life” and “provide[s] a range of direct services and take[s] an active and professional approach to leadership in service, education and advocacy.”

Dining Out for Life is a fundraising event involving participating Philadelphia restaurants that donate 33 percent of their business on a specified day each year to an AIDS organization. The last Thursday of each April is the night to dine out for life in such local restaurants as Kildare’s Irish Pub, Adelphia Restaurant and Johnny Rockets on South Street, among many more. A full list of participating restaurants may be found at www.diningoutforlife.com.

The annual event depends largely on the help of volunteers, most importantly the Restaurant Ambassadors. Ambassadors greet diners at the restaurants, explain the mission and work of ActionAIDS and encourage further contributions to the organization.

The 33 percent of revenue from April 26 is donated to support the HIV/AIDS services at the following establishments: ActionAIDS, AIDS Coalition of Southern New Jersey, AIDS Delaware, Family and Community Service of Delaware County and the Planned Parenthood organizations of Bucks County, Chester County and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

In addition to the advantage of donating to these causes, an extra incentive has been offered this year. Patrons of the participating restaurants may enter a raffle for a chance to win a trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, sponsored by Apple Vacations. The trip for two includes round-trip airfare from Philadelphia to the tropical destination, four nights at Iberostar Hotels and Resorts and all meals, drinks and tips.

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu