Sharpen your appetites, Western New York! For the 17th consecutive year, Western New Yorkers can help raise funds to assist individuals and families in our community who are affected by HIV simply by enjoying a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 1 as part of Dining Out For Life, a national fundraising event held annually in more than 60 participating cities.
This year, 79 participating restaurants in Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Chautauqua counties will donate 25 percent (or more) of their proceeds on Oct. 1 (Note: Fortuna’s in Niagara County will participate on Wednesday, Oct. 2 as they are closed on Tuesdays) during Western New York’s largest annual HIV fundraiser. All money raised through Dining Out For Life (approximately $1.3 million to date) remains in Western New York and supports the HIV treatment and prevention services offered by Evergreen Health, a not-for-profit organization providing HIV services since 1983.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that more than 3,400 individuals in Western New York are living with HIV. As the local leader in HIV care, Evergreen has a high success rate in getting its patients to be virally suppressed. People living with HIV with suppressed viral loads who take their medication as prescribed are leading healthy lives and have, effectively, no risk of sexually transmitting the virus. The money raised from Dining Out For Life allows Evergreen to continue providing services that create a healthier community for everyone.
“Every day we are coming closer to eliminating HIV, which has gone from being a terminal diagnosis to a chronic illness,” says Rob Baird, Director of Fundraising and Events at Evergreen Health. “We continue to encourage Western New Yorkers to get tested because, regardless of the results, Evergreen offers medical and supportive services that help provide a better quality of life, and events such as Dining Out For Life allow us to continue to provide access to care for all.
“Dining Out For Life is successful because of our 150 dedicated ambassadors, generous business sponsorships and, of course, the more than 12,000 diners who annually participate in this event,” says Baird. Dining Out For Life 2018 raised over $105,000 and earned “Best Fundraiser – Food and Drink” honors in Buffalo Spree’s Best of WNY Competition.
Restaurants participating this year for the first time include the following Erie County restaurants: The Little Club, Giacobbi’s Cucina Citta, Las Puertas, Breezy Burrito Co @ Expo, Misuta Chows and Cantina 62.
KeyBank has signed on as presenting sponsor for its fourth consecutive Dining Out For Life event and will match, dollar for dollar, money donated by diners the night of the event, up to $15,000.
Lyft is offering Dining Out For Life diners a $7.16 discount off a ride to a participating restaurant that originates or ends in the greater Western New York area on Oct. 1 between 5 p.m. and midnight when they enter the code DINEOUTBUF19 in the Lyft app.
Additional information about Dining Out For Life, including the full list of participating restaurants, is available at www.DiningOutForLife.com/WNY. To learn more about Evergreen Health, visit www.evergreenhs.org.
