For the first time, New York City will participate in the international Dining Out For Life initiative on Thursday, April 26, when people in more than 60 cities across North America are encouraged to dine out at select restaurants – all to help fund HIV/AIDS healthcare, prevention, education, testing, counseling, and other essential services.
More than 3,000 restaurants – including seven in New York City – are participating and agreed to generously donate a portion of proceeds that day to local nonprofits. The Alliance for Positive Change, a 27-year-old nonprofit that assists more than 5,000 people each year and impacts another 15,000 more, is the benefitting New York City nonprofit. Learn more about NYC’s involvement at diningoutforlife.com/newyorkcity.
“It’s a win-win on so many levels,” says Sharen Duke, Alliance CEO & Executive Director. “Simply by dining out, New Yorkers can make a difference in someone’s life and in fact, can help us to reach even more New Yorkers who are trying to feel better, live better, and do better. We are extremely excited that the Dining Out For Life organization selected us – and New York – to participate in such an important event that is helping to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
Over the past ten years, Dining Out For Life has raised roughly $38 million for the wellness of those affected by HIV/AIDS, about $4 million each year. Volunteer spokespeople include Ted Allen, host of Food Network’s Chopped, actor Pam Grier (Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown), HIV-positive designer Mondo Guerra, winner of Lifetime’s Project Runway All-Stars, and chef Daisy Martinez from Food Network’s Viva Daisy!
“The wonderful thing about Dining Out for Life is you can do it three times a day, a different restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” says Mondo Guerra. “You can sit down and have a meal with someone interesting, someone you love, maybe someone you haven’t seen in a while. And, it’s an opportunity to have a conversation. The fight against this disease begins with real, honest conversation.”
Subaru of America has been a Host Sponsor of Dining Out For Life for more than a decade and extended its long-term commitment as a Host Sponsor of Dining Out For Life. “At Subaru, we believe in supporting causes that are important to our drivers, retailers, and employees and Dining Out For Life has been one of those causes for many years,” said Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing, Subaru of America Inc. “We are excited to extend our long-term partnership with the fundraiser as part of our Subaru Loves to Care initiative and help raise funds, awareness and continue the fight to overcome an HIV/AIDS epidemic that affects many in our local communities and millions around the world.
Ted Allen, photo credit: Peter Ross
Local participating restaurants to date are: Clyde Frazier’s Wine & Dine (485 Tenth Avenue, Manhattan); Staghorn Steakhouse (315 West 36th Street, Manhattan); Lucca Restaurant (3019 Westchester Avenue, Bronx); Metate Authentic (3515 Johnson Avenue, Riverdale, Bronx); Pane Vino (174 Smith Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn); Sac’s Place (86-14A 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights. Queens); and Sazon Perez (427 S. 4th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Also supporting the event is the Rockville Links Country Club in Rockville Center, Long Island.
In New York City, details about the restaurants – and any special events that day – can be found at diningoutforlife.com/newyorkcity. New Yorkers are also encouraged to follow the event on social media to learn about new developments at Facebook – www.facebook.com/diningoutnyc; Twitter – www.twitter.com/diningout_nyc; and, Instagram – www.instagram.com/diningout_nyc
