AIDS Community Services of Western NY: Buffalo's Dining Out For Life

Chilly upstate New York has something to look forward to this spring…The next Dining Out For Life event will be in Buffalo, NY on April 26, 2011. The Western New York region has 100 participating restaurants for diners to choose from. If you are in the mood for a juicy slow-roasted prime rib, Alfie’s Restaurant is your place, or if you are into traditional Italian cuisine, try Cecelia’s Ristorante. Both of these participating restaurants donate 50% of your bill to AIDS Community Services of Western New York. If you are more passionate about your contribution, you can go to Erie Community College’s buffet style cafeteria on April 13^th, where they donate 100% to the AIDS organization.

The AIDS Community Services of Western New York started in 1983 as the Buffalo AIDS Task Force. It started with a hotline, created a team of 100 volunteer educators a year later, and bought a building the following year. The not for profit community based organization continued to grow quickly and has recently produced a documentary film with a public television station and purchased an apartment building to expand their housing services.The organization is committed to ending the AIDS epidemic and minimizing the effects on its surrounding area by providing medical, supportive, and prevention services. To learn more about the AIDS Community Services of Western New York, visit their website at www. aidscommunityservices.com.

Dining Out For Life of Western New York raises around $100,000 each year. You can volunteer as an ambassador by telling everyone you know about the campaign and greeting diners on the night of the event. Sign up to be an ambassador! Their big sponsors include Subaru of America, Lawley Insurance, Bank of America, BEE Group Newspaper, and WBFO.

Dining Out for Life Wrap Up

I hope everyone had a great time Dining Out for Life on Thursday! Based on all the TwEATs we received, it seems like everyone had fun supporting our cause.

For me, Thursday started with meeting up with Felipe Rose, of the Village People, who has been our social media ambassador for the last few months. Felipe and his partner, Michael, were delightful, and I had so much fun going to lunch with them and walking around the city to visit a few participating restaurants. Every restaurant was packed with people, even at lunch time!

That night, we went to a dinner at Butcher & Singer, where Ted Allen joined us, along with representatives from Action AIDS and Subaru, and Philadelphia's Mayor, Michael Nutter. Dining Out for Life started in Philadelphia twenty years ago, and it was such a privilege meeting everyone who made this organization possible. It was quite a celebration with good food, good service and good company.

Below is an article about Felipe Rose, Ted Allen and Pam Grier, our celebrity sponsors. They have been so incredible to us and I want to thank them all for believing in our cause. While I unfortunately did not get a chance to meet the divine Pam Grier, Ted Allen and Felipe Rose made the night incredibly special.
We have not yet received word on how much money has been raised altogether, however it seems that the Denver area raised an incredible amount for their non-profit, Project Angel Heart. Read more here. Thank you Denver!

In the next few days we will have more pictures from the event. Right now, I just want to thank all the amazing restaurants who participated this year and extend that thanks to the amazing staff working there. Also, a big thanks and congratulations to the non-profits across the country who were able to raise money from this event. Finally, thank you to all of you out there who Dined Out for Life! It is inspiring to know so many went out and supported an amazing cause. Keep reading the blog for more pictures and updates, and remember to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS!

TwEAT Out, Fight AIDS

Listen up! If you're planning on eating out with any friends or family members soon, then mark your calendars for April 29th, 2010. This is when Dining Out for Life wants to set the world record for "Largest Day of Dining Out!".

Here's what to do: In the weeks leading up to Dining Out For Life, participants will be asked to register here, make a reservation at a participating restaurant on April 29th, and then, and this is the important part, TwEAT about it!

TwEAT (Tw-EET) verb

-To use social media utilities such as Twitter or Facebook to advertise and spread the word about participation in a fight against HIV/AIDS which specifically uses the "twEATers" eating habits as a means of raising money.
ex: "If we want to join Jonathan on April 29th for dinner, we will have to follow his TwEATS."

You must register which participating restaurant where the reservations are made because only those registered will be counted towards the world record!

Cyber-service is an evolving trend with the growing number of people who utilize social media as a networking hub. “We are hoping to connect Dining Out For Life in a significant way with many who are responsive to cause-related action,” stated Tim Mahoney, CMO Subaru of America. “We plan to link followers of social media and fans of Dining Out For Life to encourage participation in this event off-line, in real-time, in an effort to raise even more awareness and needed funds.” Last year over 250,000 participants helped raise nearly $4 million dollars in just one day of dining. All monies raised in each city, stay in that city. With a successful viral campaign, organizers expect to exceed these numbers.

We can't wait to read the TwEATS! Follow us on twitter, here!

ActionAIDS Celebrates 20 Years of "Dining Out for Life"

April 29, 2010 is the date of the 20th annual Dining Out for Life, when participating restaurants donate one-third of their proceeds to local AIDS service organizations. The idea is simple - dine out, fight AIDS - and strikingly effective. Last year, the nearly 200 restaurants that participated in the Philadelphia event raised $290,000.

"It's amazing how far we've come in the last two decades," said ActionAIDS executive director Kevin Burns. "In our first year, with just a handful of restaurants in Philly, we raised about $20,000. Today, it is our largest fundraiser. Through the gracious support of the restaurant community, and the thousands of people who dine out that night, we are able to provide

year-round education, testing and life-sustaining support."

Participating restaurants include London Grill, Mexican Post, Rembrandts, Venture Inn, Westbury and Zocalo - all six of which been involved for the last 20 years. Iron Chef Jose Garces - who made a cameo appearance in this year's Public Service Announcement alongside "Food Network" host Ted Allen and actress Pam Grier - will also participate with five of his local restaurants taking part: Amada, Chifa, Distrito, Tinto and Village Whiskey.

Stephen Starr, whose Starr Restaurant Organization participates in DOFL each year, received last year's "Friend for Life Award," along with Subaru of America SVP/Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney. Both advocates were recognized for their commitment to "nourishing charitable, community causes," said Burns. The awards were announced in a ceremony at Starr's Parc - one of his 13 Philadelphia restaurants. This year's winners will be announced on April 29.

ActionAIDS developed Dining Out for Life in 1991, selling it five years later to a newly formed non-profit, Dining Out for Life International, at a price of just $1 so the idea could grow to include other cities. Today, DOFL is held in 53 cities in North America, includes 3,500 restaurants and raises nearly $4 million annually. The monies raised are used to fund care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential AIDS services in each city. It is sponsored by Subaru of America.

A complete list of participating restaurants will be available after March 15. For more information, call 1-877-EAT4LIFE (1-877-328-4543) or go HERE

SUBARU fights HIV/AIDS alongside DOFL!

Subaru ain't just cars, kiddos. It's a company that gives back and believes in fighting HIV/AIDS alongside Dining Out For Life. We'd like to share a snippet of a recent article about Subaru's battle against HIV/AIDS and encourage you all to support this socially conscious company (perhaps next time you need new wheels?). This article is in regards to the upcoming 2010 DOFL events going on in over 55 cities across North America:

"Support for this event has grown to over 250,000 diners, thanks in large part to the efforts of Dining Out For Life Spokesperson Ted Allen, host of Food Network's primetime competition series Chopped. Allen will be joined by Pam Grier, actress, advocate and author of a soon-to-be released memoir Foxy--My Life In Three Acts. Both will appear with Food Network's newest Iron Chef, Jose Garces in a Public Service Announcement produced by Shooters, Inc. Additionally, singer Felipe Rose best known as the Native American Indian of The World Famous Village People, has volunteered to join the cause as Social Ambassador rallying supporters to Dine Out via social media on April 29th."

And as always, folks, be sure to check out your own local Dining Out For Life: I'M HUNGRY!

Events are starting soon!

Safety is SEXY!

As I see signs on Spring popping up against this gray Winter, I'm thinking about the joy of taking a nice drive on a nice day, with my partner and my dog. Maybe to a beautiful park or something for a nice little picnic, smooching under a canopy of sun-dapple trees (am I painting you a nice little fantasy or what?). And honestly, arriving in style and safety is always super great. Nothing spoils a little nature make-out like a car accident, right? Well, our DOFL sponsors, Subaru, just got 27 top safety awards! Woot! So, next time you want to take a drive with your special someone (Valentine's Day is coming up!), think about how driving safe makes all the sexy even sexier! And check out your local city to see what restaurants are participating in your Dining Out For Life. Make it a date!

Our Sponsor, SUBARU, cares about climate change too!

Check out this sa-weet NY Times review of Subaru's climate change friendly cars.

And here's a sexy slideshow of a car for anyone on the go: SHOW ME!

Thank you, Subaru, for all your support! <3 DO4L

More Good CARma!

We got some great news about our international sponsor : Subaru America!

The Subaru Outback has been named MOTOR TREND's 2010 Sport/Utility of the Year®!



The Subaru Outback's victory follows the Subaru Forester's win for the 2009 award, making Subaru the first automaker to win two consecutive MOTOR TREND Sport/Utility of the Year® awards.



MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie, said "The 2010 Subaru Outback offers a unique combination of comfort, efficiency, versatility and value. It boasts car-like refinement, drivability and gas mileage on the road, yet is as capable in the rough stuff as all but the most off-road focused sport utilities. Thoughtfully engineered, cleverly detailed and competitively priced, the Subaru Outback is a terrific all-rounder with broad appeal."

Learn more about the 2010 Outback reading the Motor Trend article here.

And remember, all our friends in the Dining Out For Life Community can take advantage of a special offer from Subura! Remember this deal...HERE!

Just The Facts Please...

Since our blog went live earlier this week, we've gotten some great feedback here and through our Twitter feed. Keep it up! We love meeting Dining Out For Life fans!

We've also been asked a few basic and common questions, so we've decided to do a little DO4L primer!

• April 29, 2010 is the international date for Dining Out For Life. This will be the 20th annual event!
• Subaru of America has been the International Host Sponsor since 2007.
• Ted Allen of Food Network's Chopped has been the spokesperson since 2008.
• The one-day event is held in nearly 60 cities across the U.S. & Canada! Keep checking here and our website for an updated list of participating cities!

So there you have the facts! We probably forgot something, so don't hesitate to drop us an e-mail or comment if you have any questions! To stay completely in the loop, connect with us using the tools on the right hand sign of this blog. Seriously consider signing up for our newsletter: Dining Out For LifeLines, its got some incredible content and information.