by Beth Conahan
a&e editor
Eat out and save lives. It’s almost as easy as that.Dining Out for Life makes it possible. All you have to do is eat or drink at one of the participating restaurants on Thurs., March 22, and a portion of your bill is donated to AIDS organizations. So basically, all you need to do is eat food you like and drink drinks you like and you will actually be doing something to help the fight against AIDS.
Dining Out for Life has been doing this since 1991, when ActionAIDS in Philadelphia teamed up with 29 local restaurants to raise some money and create some awareness. Since then, it has taken off, raising about $1 million dollars in 1998. Over 1,300 restaurants participated and 25 AIDS organizations in the U.S. and Canada participated and benefited.
ActionAIDS has launched a network of non-profit AIDS organizations, which hold their own Dining Out for Life events, since starting the program.
This year, ActionAIDS, AIDS Coalition of Southern New Jersey, AIDS Delaware, Family and Community Service of Delaware County, Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County and Planned Parenthood of Chester County will all benefit.
In 1998, AIDS was the fourth leading killer with 2.5 million deaths. In 1999, the CDC predicted another ten years before a vaccine could be made available for HIV.
