Dining Out for Life: 200+ Restaurants, 3 States on April 28

Dozens of restaurants – and thousands of diners – from across the Delaware Valley will again join together in the local fight against HIV/AIDS on Thursday, April 28 as part of Dining Out for Life Philadelphia.

Event organizers today released the complete list of participating restaurants as part of the 21st annual event, which covers south-eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. More than 100 restaurants in Center City Philadelphia alone participate, where Dining Out for Life began in 1991.

“Philadelphia has four times as many people infected with HIV/AIDS than the national average. Times are tight, but every meal, every drink, helps make a difference in the lives of our neighbors, friends and families who live with this disease day-in, day-out,” said Kevin Burns, executive director of ActionAIDS, the lead local organizer. “We’re very fortunate to have the support of nearly 200 wonderful restaurants, but I would especially like to recognize five that have been with us since the very first year: London Grill, Mexican Post, Rembrandts, Venture Inn and Westbury. We’re also thrilled to have 14 new restaurants this year!”

Dining Out for Life began in Philadelphia in 1991 as a fundraiser for ActionAIDS, and has since grown into an international event – raising a total of $4 million annually in more than 50 cities. The idea behind the single-day event is simple and effective: dine out, fight AIDS. Participating restaurants donate 33 percent of their proceeds from the day. The monies raised stay in each respective community and are used to fund local care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential AIDS services. (Last year, the Philadelphia event raised $295,000.)

The local beneficiaries for 2011 are ActionAIDS, AIDS Delaware, Family & Community Service of Delaware County, Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania (PPSEPA), as well as Dooley House in Camden, N.J. Dooley House focuses on children living with HIV/AIDS and provide housing for families, transportation services and case management. This is their first year receiving funds from DOFL.

In addition to the Philadelphia restaurants, and those in the suburbs, 11 restaurants from southern New Jersey and 19 from Delaware are participating.

A complete list of restaurants is available by calling 1-877-EAT4LIFE (1-877-328-4543) or at http://www.diningoutforlife.com/Philadelphia.

About ActionAIDS

In 1986, a group of 84 committed volunteers came together to form a community of care to provide services to 100 people with AIDS. These were the partners, family and friends of our founding volunteers. Over these many years, thanks to dedicated volunteers, talented staff, generous donors, and ongoing support from city, state and Federal agencies, ActionAIDS has grown to become Pennsylvania’s largest AIDS service organization. We currently serve more than 5,000 clients a year through the efforts of over 350 dedicated volunteers and 91 professional staff. We are privileged to be invited into the lives of thousands of men, women and children who are faced with the challenges of living with HIV disease. ActionAIDS volunteers and staff focus on building relationships one person/one family at a time. Our services are relationship focused, client centered and individualized. We continue to build a strong, diverse and committed community of caring to make sure that “No one faces AIDS alone.”

Participating Chester County Restaurants are as follows:

Catherine’s Restaurant
Cedar Hollow Inn
Columbia Bar & Grill
High Street Caffe
Jazmine Thai
Kildare’s Irish Pub
Market Street Grill
Mas Mexicali Cantina
Side Bar & Grille
Three Little Pigs