Religion, Soccer and South Carolina

I hope all those in Vancouver make Dining Out for Life a huge success tonight! I want to thank everyone in that area, the businesses and the patrons, for everything you are doing for our cause. There has been a lot of HIV/AIDS news, so I thought I would share a few articles that grabbed my interest today.

Religious leaders are meeting in the Netherlands this week to have an open forum about their influence over their communities regarding the AIDS crisis. Religious leaders have a chance to really involve their congregations with the fight against HIV/AIDS, read about it here.

Can television and soccer help fight AIDS? That's what Sony hopes for during the World Cup. Sony has donated huge TV monitors to broadcast HIV/AIDS awareness messages during the games in Ghana and Cameroon. Sony wants to make sure as many people as possible in Africa have access to information that can save their lives. Good job, Sony!

About 8% of Tanzania's population is infected with HIV, but there are steps being taken to bring that number down. A few years ago, the HIV rate among those who went to high school dropped dramatically, and so an emphasis is being placed on educating young girls about HIV/AIDS, since they are among the most at risk.

Budget cuts in South Carolina are limiting funds for HIV/AIDS funds, including the money which goes towards the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which helps low income individuals struggling to pay for their AIDS medication. This is sad news for all those in South Caroline living with HIV/AIDS, please keep them in your thoughts.

April is almost here! That means, we all need to make a reservation and "TwEAT" about Dining Out For Life so our friends and families everywhere can participate. Remember, April 29th we are trying to break a world record, so make those reservations and help fight AIDS!

Vancouver turns sweet 16!

Dining Out for Life takes place in Vancouver on March 25th, so for everyone in Vancouver, make reservations at your favorite participating restaurant! Here is a list of all the restaurants you can choose from for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Over 200 restaurants from Whistler to White Rock and across the Fraser Valley will donate 25% of their food revenues that day to A Loving Spoonful and Friends For Life.

And I knew Stella Artois is one of my favorite beers for a reason! For every bottle of Stella Artois sold on March 25th they will donate a dollar to Dining Out for Life. Incredible! To all those in Vancouver, eat, drink and be merry on March 25th while supporting an amazing cause!

Vancouver has been participating in Dining Out for Life for 16 years, and the support is getting stronger and the number of restaurants participating is growing. In this article, a few workers at participating restaurants talk about why they love Dining Out for Life and how the local HIV/AIDS organizations, A Loving Spoonful and Friends For Life, have touched them.

A Loving Spoonful provides healthy and nutritious meals to those living with HIV/AIDS and Friends for Life offers counselling and wellness programs, among other services. Read why these two organizations depend on Dining Out for Life here.

Vancouver, thank you so much for the 16 years you have put into Dining Out for Life. We hope to see you out on the town on Thursday, March 25th. To follow the Dining Out for Life updates in Vancouver, please become a fan on facebook or follow us on twitter.

Annie Lennox, Jamie Foxx, Ludacris, Hudson and Vancouver

Hey everyone! I'm Chelsea and I just joined the Dining Out for Life team to help out with the next two months while we get ready for some fun, fabulous fundraisers in April. I'm still getting used to blogging for the masses, so to get me started here are some great articles I found online.

Hudson, NY celebrates their 7th year as a part of the Dining Out for Life family. Go here to find out more.

What are Jamie Foxx and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges up to? Both actor/musicians are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a open, safe forum for young African-Americans to discuss HIV/AIDS. Good work guys!

A touching article about Vancouver's work towards fighting AIDS, including their participation with Dining Out for Life. Thank you for your work, Vancouver!

The amazing Annie Lennox talks about the devestation HIV/AIDS causes globally. From all of us here at Dining Out for Life, we thank Ms. Lennox for her commitment to this issue.

Oh Canada!

Dining Out For Life ain't just a US event. Canada joins in the party too! If you're Canadian, or going to be in Canada during their DOFL events, then be sure to enjoy a delicious local meal at a participating restaurant. Check out Vancouver, Okanagan Region, & Vancouver Island to find your perfect restaurant!

If you're interested in getting involved with Dining Out For Life, there are easy ways to spread the word. Become a volunteer for your local event. Join us on Facebook. If you own a restaurant, sign up to participate. Get your friends & family together and go out for a delicious meal on event day. It's all wonderful & all helpful! See you there!