You can be a Hero when you Dine Out, Fight AIDS
By Barry Dayton
Pam Grier and Mondo Guerra will kick it off with a cooking lesson at D.A.P.
Pam Grier and Mondo Guerra are featured as cartoon superhero spokespersons in the current Dining Out For Life TV commercials and online campaign, along with Food Network host Ted Allen and chef Daisy Martinez of PBS-TV’s “Daisy Cooks!” But Pam – the real actress – and Mondo – the real fashion designer – will be personally kicking-off Dining Out For Life a day early for Palm Springs when they appear at Desert AIDS Project on Wednesday, April 23rd. Joining them for the fun will be chef Mark Van Laanen of TRIO Restaurant, which has been the top-producing restaurant in Dining Out For Life for the past four years.
“We’re delighted that Pam, Mondo, and Mark will be with us at D.A.P. to be sous chefs in our popular ‘What’s Cooking?’ class where our clients learn how to cook delicious, nutritious meals for very little money,” said D.A.P. CEO David Brinkman. “It’s not every day that our clients get to cook with ‘Foxy Brown’ and one of the ‘Project Runway’ fashion design darlings.”
Palm Springs Subaru pitches in to help
But before the cooking class begins, Pam and Mondo will be joining representatives from Palm Springs Subaru and others at a press conference, tour, and lunch – catered by Lulu California Bistro – to say “Thank you, Subaru of America” for eight years of support as Dining Out For Life’s International Host. Subaru’s generosity helps to make it possible for the annual dining extravaganza to raise millions for HIV/AIDS in their respective communities for the 60 outstanding AIDS service organizations and programs the event benefits throughout the U.S. and Canada.
To help generate awareness for Dining Out For Life right here in the Coachella Valley on Thursday, April 24, two “logo-wrapped” Subaru vehicles will be seen driving around our communities during the month of April, to help promote its current test-drive incentive. Two winners of the “Subaru Hero Award” – who have gone above-and-beyond for their support of D.A.P.’s Dining Out For Life event – will be personally honored by Pam and Mondo, with a $500 donation in each of their names being made to D.A.P.
“Join the Conversation” by tweeting and posting online on Thursday, April 24
With 40 participating restaurants and bars, Dining Out For Life 2014 in the Coachella Valley is stacking up to be the biggest yet. Visit diningoutforlife.com/palmsprings to see if your favorite restaurant or bar is participating. Then, grab your family and friends for breakfast, lunch, or dinner – or all three! Depending on which restaurant or bar you choose, 33% to 75% of your tab will be donated to client services at Desert AIDS Project.
Get online and encourage your friends not to miss the fun! Let them know that supporting Desert AIDS Project can be as easy as having a meal at one of their favorite restaurants. Better yet, get a group together and make it a dining-and-blogging event of your own!
While enjoying breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner, make sure to enter a drawing for prizes like a 32GB iPod Touch Silver, two tickets to the 2014 Mid-Summer Mixer on July 25 at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, and more.
Dining Out For Life is that single day of the year when people can support their local HIV/AIDS organization just by eating at a participating restaurant or having a drink at a participating bar.
Don’t miss the fun … and the fundraising … to benefit D.A.P.!
Watch for more information on the 2014 Dining Out For Life International Association Meeting & Conference in Palm Springs July 7 – 11
Get your taste buds ready with Thirst for Life
Whether your choice of beverage runs to a cup of coffee or tea, a shake or a smoothie, or beer, wine or cocktails, participating partners in the first-ever Thirst for Life will be awaiting your pleasure on Tuesday, April 8 … and benefiting client services at D.A.P. at the same time.
Those coffee shops, restaurants, and bars that have already signed on include AJ’s on the Green & Splash Bar, Alicante, Clinic Bar & Lounge, Coachella Valley Brewing Company, El Jefe, Espresso Cielo, Giuseppe’s Pizza and Pasta, Great Shakes, Hunter’s Nightclub, Legends of Palm Springs, Oscar’s Café & Bar, Smoke Tree Supper Club, Smokin’ Burgers, Spurline, Tool Shed, Toucans Tiki Lounge, and Zin Restaurant.
“Sponsored by Pride Card Services, and thanks to help from our friends at Brighthaus Marketing, Gay Desert Guide, and Red Hot & Happening, we’ll be bringing D.A.P. supporters a brand-new event this year,” said Darrell L. Tucci, Chief Development Officer at Desert AIDS Project. “Similarly to Dining Out For Life, when you have a drink at a participating coffee shop, restaurant, or bar on April 8, 25% of that item’s sale will come to D.A.P.”
Most of these same businesses are also participating in Dining Out For Life on Thursday, April 24. For a complete list of participants for either Thirst for Life or Dining Out For Life, please visit the website at desertaidsproject.org.
