Subaru® Dealers Support Dining Out for Life®!

Posted on by Kristina Moore

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Pictured: Jay Dewey from ARCS, Peter Maher from Mid-Hudson Subaru, and Charles North from the Dutchess Co. Regional Chamber of Commerce.

AIDS-Related Community Service (ARCS), the Dining Out for Life® AIDS service organization in Hawthorne, New York, held their Dining Out for Life® kick-off party on April 9, 2013 at the Poughkeepsie Ice House on the Hudson, in conjunction with Mid-Hudson Subaru and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber held an official ribbon cutting ceremony to honor the successful partnership between Hudson Valley Community Services and local businesses.

Mid-Hudson Subaru brought a highly coveted 2014 Forester model to the restaurant and gave away diversity badges for current Subaru owners. The Poughkeepsie Ice House provided an array of complimentary appetizers and live musicians. Over 80 guests attended, including other sponsors and participating restaurant owners, and the event was featured on our local newscast the following evening.

Is your local Subaru dealer is a Dining Out for Life® SUPERSTAR? Email  laura@15minutesinc.com

 

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Enter the Yummy Dining Out for Life® Instagram Contest!

Posted on by Kristina Moore

DO4L Instagram campaign

Hi there! Are you up for a tasty challenge?

We hope you are because we can’t wait to drool all over your delicious pictures! If you use Instagram® to post about all of the juicy parts of your life, your photos can win you $100 we hope you’ll use at your favorite Dining Out for Life hosted by Subaru® restaurant!

Entering is simple! Here are the rules: When eating at a participating Dining Out for Life restaurant between now and April 30, 2013, snap a great food-related photo, upload it on your Instagram page and use the hashtag #dineoutfightaids. If you’re an overachiever, you’ll even “tag” or check-in at your restaurant.

We will choose 5 lucky winners to win a $100 gift card. Winners will be announced on April 30th via the Dining Out for Life Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & diningoutforlife.com.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram (username: @diningout4life). We can’t wait to see where you’re dining and what you’re eating!

And now for the “official” legal stuff…

Dining Out for Life Terms and Conditions for Instagram contest

#dineoutfightaids

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: The contest is offered only to legal residents of the United States who are users of the mobile app Instagram and over 18 years old.

PERIOD OF ACTION: April 2, 2013 to April 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM (EST).

OPERATION AND AWARDS:

1. The theme of the contest is “”Dine Out. Fight AIDS”, users should take food-related photos at any participating Dining Out for Life restaurant.

2. To qualify for participation in the contest users must identify photograph with the hashtag #dineoutfightaids in its description when publishing it on Instagram. No other registration to any application is required.

3. Only images that meet the theme of the contest and include the hashtag in the description will be considered valid contest entries.

4. The contest is valid for all the pictures uploaded from 2nd of April through April 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM (EST) to Instagram with the tag #dineoutfightaids, and fulfilling the established theme.

5. Enter as many photos as you want within the contest dates for an increased chance of winning.

 

Mon”DO”: Savor and Share Dining Out for Life with Others

Posted on by Kristina Moore

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Spokesperson Mondo Guerra, winner of Lifetime’s Project Runway All-Stars, tells us why he shares Dining Out for Life with those he cherishes in his life. Check out his response here and be sure to make a reservation at a restaurant participating in your city Thursday, April 25th at www.diningoutforlife.com.

For more Mondo and Dining Out for Life videos, visit Youtube.com/DineOut4Life

 

Mondo Guerra Dining Out for Life® hosted by Subaru® Tee Available for Sale Online!

Posted on by Kristina Moore

Mondo Guerra Dining Out for Life Tee

Mondo Guerra, winner of Lifetime’s Project Runway All-Stars, has created a limited edition “Movers and Shakers” t-shirt for Dining Out for Life International hosted by Subaru®, an annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser. The limited edition t-shirt is available for $25 at SubaruGear.com.

Dining Out for Life International hosted by Subaru will be held on Thursday, April 25th in 60 cities across the United States and Canada. Some 3,000 restaurants participate by donating a generous percentage of proceeds from the day to a local AIDS service organization. An estimated $4 million will be raised in just one day of dining. Funds raised in each city benefit the designated AIDS service organization in that city.

Guerra, who disclosed his HIV-positive status on Project Runway, has become a prominent advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Guerra was announced as the newest spokesperson for Dining Out for Life and debuted his tee shirt and custom Dining Out-inspired looks at a Valentine’s Day event in Philadelphia: “I am a creature of expression through fashion and through my advocacy work. Dining Out for Life is our opportunity to celebrate friends, food and being truly fabulous in helping others,” said Guerra. Watch a highlight video here.

Dining Out for Life spokespeople also include Ted Allen, host of Food Network’s Chopped, Author and Actor Pam Grier (Foxy, Jackie Brown) and Chef Daisy Martinez from Food Network’s ¡Viva Daisy!

Subaru of America is proud to enter its seventh consecutive year as host sponsor for Dining Out for Life. According to Chief Marketing Officer Dean Evans, “Subaru of America is deeply committed to this community and invested in the cause. Our nationwide network of Subaru dealers is also supportive of AIDS Service Organizations across the country, and Subaru drivers are foodies who enjoy dining out!”

 Cities participating on the April 25th date include: Albany, Asheville, Baton Rouge, Bay Shore (Long Island), Birmingham, Charleston, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Chicago, Cincinnati, Clearwater (Tampa Bay), Columbia, Denver-Boulder, El Paso, Ferndale (Detroit), Fort Collins, Colo., Fort Lauderdale, Hawthorne (Hudson Valley), Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kalamazoo, Kamloops, Kansas City, Lake Charles, Lexington, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Brunswick, New Haven, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., Portsmouth, Providence, Reno, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Tacoma, Tulsa, Washington, DC and Vancouver Island.

 

About Dining Out for Life International

Dining Out for Life began in Philadelphia in 1991 and has since grown into an international event in more than 60 cities – raising an average $4 million annually. The idea behind the single-day event is simple and effective: Dine Out, Fight AIDS. Each restaurant donates a percentage of the day’s food sales, which goes to local organizations to fund care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential HIV/AIDs services. For more information, visit diningoutforlife.com or Facebook/DiningOut4Life.

 

About Subaru of America, Inc. 

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States.  All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.

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Tomorrow’s Special: Savor A Satisfying Meal And Fight HIV/AIDS

Posted on by julie@chatterblast.com

Dining Out for Life® hosted by Subaru®

On Thursday, April 26, you can help those affected by HIV/AIDS in your city simply by dining out at a favorite restaurant. The annual Dining Out for Life® hosted by Subaru® is a unique event designed to bring people together over food to support this worthy cause. Over 3,000 restaurants will donate a generous percentage of the day’s receipts to a local AIDS service organization. An expected $4 million will be raised in just one day of dining.

 

Cities holding Dining Out for Life on April 26th include: Albany, Asheville, Birmingham, Cambridge/Boston, Charleston, Charlottesville, Chattanooga, Chicago, Columbia, Denver/Boulder, Detroit, Fairbanks, Ft. Walton Beach/Pensacola/Destin, Grand Rapids, Hampton Roads, Hudson Valley, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kalamazoo, Kamloops (B.C.,) Kansas City, Lake Charles, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Haven, Northern Colorado, Northern Nevada, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Prescott, Portland (ME), Portland(OR), Portsmouth, Providence, San Diego, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Tacoma/Olympia, Trenton(NJ), Tulsa, and Washington, DC. View participating restaurants and make a reservation at diningoutforlife.com.

 

According to Dining Out for Life President Stacie Walls-Beegle: “We have made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, however, there is much to be done. Support for people living with HIV/AIDS and the prevention of new infections is necessary to move forward.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent, as many as 240,000 of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS, do not even know they are infected and may unknowingly pass the disease on to others. New HIV/AIDS diagnoses are rising at alarming rates among youth ages 15 through 24.

 

“Subaru of America is proud to be part of this important event for the sixth consecutive year. We are deeply committed to this community and are invested in this cause nationally. Our nationwide network of Subaru dealers is also supportive of AIDS Service Organizations across the country,” stated Subaru of America Chief Marketing Officer Dean Evans.

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Leading By Example And How It Can Influence Thousands

Posted on by julie@chatterblast.com

“There are beautiful people dying from AIDS all the time, so we wanted to get involved in the fight against AIDS.”

This is why Mariposa Ice Cream co-owner Dick VanRansom, in San Diego, CA, is participating in Dining Out for Life. VanRansom co-owns this ice cream parlor with his wife, Anna VanRansom, and has been in the ice cream business for almost 60 years.

“[The fight against HIV/AIDS] is one of the biggest and most important causes,” VanRansom said.

Like many people, VanRansom remembers the devastation of the first HIV/AIDS outbreak in the 1980s. “All we could offer in the ’80s was our sympathy, because the ice cream business wasn’t as good as it is now.”

Since then, VanRansom has been successful in the commercial ice cream business and now donates 50% of his proceeds from Dining Out for Life to The San Diego LGBT Community Center. “It’s definitely necessary that we find a cure, and we want to contribute in any way we can.”

VanRansom encourages others in San Diego to Dine Out in a simple manner: by example. “We encourage other people to contribute by our example,” he said. “We hang posters, and we have thousands of customers.” With the number of people going to Mariposa for their ice cream cravings, VanRansom is able to get the Dining Out for Life message out to San Diego.

“[The San Diego LGBT Community Center] helps a lot of people,” VanRansom said. “We know 100% of the donations will be going towards fighting HIV/AIDS, [because] this is a fundraiser by the people directly affected.”

As a business owner, VanRansom would like to see as many people as possible contribute to Dining Out for Life. “Why wouldn’t they do it? It’s pretty selfish and not very caring if [people] don’t contribute,” VanRansom said. “Every restaurant should be involved in the program because it’s a great cause; it’s a great need; and it’s a great organization.”

 

Meet The Grand Prize Winner Of Our Video Contest

Posted on by julie@chatterblast.com

Dining Out For Life is proud to announce Sammy Shuster from Philadelphia as the “Why Do You Dine Out” video contest winner. Her charming and heartfelt animated video begins with an illustration of the iconic Robert Indiana LOVE sculpture and explaining why she “Dines Out,” takes the viewer through the leveling statistics of HIV/AIDS in her city (five times the national average!) and ends with an uplifting message to celebrate “Life.”

Shuster, who studied at NYU and earned a Masters in Social Work from Temple University says, “I am so happy to support Dining Out for Life and to have my video used to promote it. As an employee of an AIDS Service Organization, I know first-hand how important this event is in helping to fund services for people living with HIV/AIDS.” When she is not working as a Program Analyst at ActionAIDS, Sammy enjoys singing, playing guitar, cooking, dancing, exploring Philadelphia, and spending time with her fiancée , Corey.

Congrats to all contest entrants. As the popular winner of the contest, Sammy will enjoy a trip for two to a DOFL participating city in the Continental U.S. Check out Sammy’s winning, animated video here.

Top 10 Reasons To Dine Out For Life

Posted on by julie@chatterblast.com

10. You Were Hungry Anyway

Chances are, you were probably planning to eat that day anyways, right? You might as well grab some grub at one of the many participating restaurants in your area. It won’t change the price of your food at all, and part of the money you spend will go to a local AIDS Service Organization.

 

9. You Want To Impress Your Date

Sure, it’s sweet that you bought flowers and opened the car door for your date, but this is your chance to really shine. Suggest not only a romantic dinner for two, but one at an establishment that is giving a portion of proceeds to charity.

 

8. You Already Have Dinner Plans, But Lunch Is Open

Not everyone knows that there is an abundance of restaurants that offer not just dinner but also lunch (and sometimes breakfast, too) as a way to raise money. So those excuses about how you already had plans to eat your mom’s cooking, or you plan to be at work late and get take out  – they’re not going to work. When the lunch bell rings you can be a part of Dining Out For Life.

 

7. You Wanted To Try That New Place

Hundreds of restaurants are taking part in this year’s Dining Out For Life and there is something for everyone. Are you a foodie? We’ve got you covered. Love to support local businesses? Check. Or do you use every excuse you can to try the latest hot spots? Say no more, Dining Out For Life can help you out.

6. You Can Make It A Tradition

Dining Out For Life has been around since 1991, and it grows each year. Though a few cities vary on the exact date, the event generally takes place in the last week of April. If you haven’t already, make the Dining Out For Life experience a yearly tradition with your cousins, or turn it into an annual girls night out. When it’s over, you’ll be counting down the days until next year’s event!

 

5. You Were Planning A Coworker Outing

Whether it’s a business luncheon or a colleague’s going away party, your office is always finding a reason to get out to the local watering hole. For just one day out of the year, that office excursion can raise money for your local AIDS Service Organization. Bring the whole team, increase the restaurant’s donation, and look good in the eyes of your boss!

 

4. You Want To Be Part Of A Nationwide Fight

You won’t know it until you’ve done it, but seasoned Dining Out For Life goers can tell you – there’s a certain magic in the air. You may have your own table, but you’re eating dinner with thousands of people that night who, just like you, want to join together in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

3. Your Contribution Stays In Your City

There’s nothing like seeing your contribution have an influence right in front of your eyes. When you Dine Out For Life you’re raising money in your city, for your city. The funds remain right where they were raised – in your community.

 

2. You Can Make A Difference In Someone’s Life

All AIDS Service Organizations are unique. While they focus on helping those who are touched by HIV/AIDS, many of them reach out further, providing education, job placement, and meals for those in need. Though it’s so easy to Dine Out For Life, it could mean a world of difference to someone in your community.

 

1. You Know There’s No Easier Way To Give

Your meal will cost just as much as it would any other day of the year, only this time a portion of what you’re spending goes to charity. All you need to do in order to assist your local AIDS Service Organization in better serving the area is eat at a participating restaurant. Of course, we won’t judge if you go a little nuts, order that appetizer and indulge in that dessert  – it is, after all, for a good cause.

 

The Face Of Dining Out For Life

Posted on by julie@chatterblast.com

 

 

“I am the face of Dining Out for Life,” says ambassador, Sara Poplau.

 

It’s the efforts of Poplau, and thousands of others around the country, who give Dining Out For Life a face and a smile while restaurant patrons dine out to raise funds for their local AIDS Service Organizations.

 

Poplau, a Minnesota native, was drawn to the HIV/AIDS cause at a young age. “In college, one of my friends was in a situation where she was exposed to the virus,” Poplau says. “We did a lot of self-education, but [10-15 years ago], there wasn’t a whole lot of information, except with the [AIDS Services] Organizations.”

 

 

It was at the AIDS Service Organization that Poplau became connected with volunteering for HIV/AIDS causes. “They were so kind and helpful, I wanted to give back.”

 

“At my core, I volunteer to give back for what I got, and making sure that other people get the same thing when they’re in a stressful situation.” Now, Populau volunteers for the Aliveness Project in Minneapolis, MN.

 

Poplau is involved in several HIV/AIDS awareness efforts in addition to Dining Out for Life. She is the president of the Minnesota Latino HIV/AIDS network, where she works with other volunteers to provide testing throughout the city, and HIV/AIDS education in both Spanish and English.

 

As a volunteer with the Aliveness Project, Poplau participates in a Christmas basket program every year. “[Donors] can adopt a person or family” to purchase Christmas gifts for, and then Poplau, along with her father, deliver the baskets. “Just seeing the looks on some people’s faces who don’t have anyone to celebrate Christmas with, or the extra income,” Poplau says, “it’s just so heartwarming—they’re so excited.”

 

This year will be Poplau’s sixth year volunteering at Dining Out for Life. “It’s so fun; it’s like a party environment,” Poplau says. “Go out to eat, drink wine, eat dessert—live it up. How could you not want to be a part of that?”

 

In Nashville It Pays To Know Everyone

Posted on by julie@chatterblast.com

 

Popular food critic, co-chair of Nashville’s Dining Out For Life committee, and general woman-about-town, Kay West, must have one gigantic Rolodex. “The co-chairs [including Bob Deal and Jay Matheney] meet at least once a month,” she explains, “to discuss the event and strategic planning sessions. We sign lots and lots of letters to restaurants and hosts, asking them to participate in Dining Out For Life. You might have a pile of 100 or 150 letters and as you start going through them you see names you know and you write a personal note to them. I know everyone in town,” she laughs, “so there’s a lot of personal note writing.”

She jokes about being in Nashville for too long, but West is obviously is using her klout for good. Aside from reaching out to participating venues, she also organizes and assists the hosts. These are the people who invite the crowds and then buzz around the restaurant making sure everyone knows that their meal is supporting the local AIDS Service Organization, Nashville Cares. “We have a 10-step plan that Kendra Cotton [of Nashville Cares] helped come up with. We made handouts for the hosts. There are about 100 hosts this year and about 60 restaurants, so people like participating.”

And to think, all of this almost didn’t happen.

A decade ago Kay West was asked if she would participate in Dining Out For Life. “I was approached because of the restaurant critic thing. People look at me and think: food.” West explains that when she was asked to participate she was a busy mother and writer, and wasn’t sure what this was all about. “I said, ‘ I have to cook dinner for my kids. You can come sit in my kitchen and tell me about Dining Out. You have fifteen minutes.’” She laughs at the memory. “And I made this poor man sit in my kitchen and explain it to me. But then it was a no-brainer  – of course I wanted to be a part of this.” West has been an integral part of Nashville’s annual Dining Out For Life event.

“I make it a point of choosing to host at a different restaurant each year,” says West. This year she will be at French bistro and market, Table 3. “When I started as a restaurant critic I never wanted to favor one place, and I still don’t. Plus there are new restaurants to try!” West invites two girlfriends to co-host with her each year, and each of them invite their respective long lists of friends, ensuring a colossal turnout. “We don’t have a table that night because the three of us end up running around, chatting with everyone,” says West. “But we do ask the restaurant to reserve three seats at the bar for us so we can refuel. And so we can get off our heels for a bit,” she adds.

Nashville will conduct their Dining Out For Life night on Tuesday, April 24. “Part of the attractiveness of doing it on a different night than the norm is because Tuesday nights are notorious for slow business. So we’re also helping the restaurants in the community, too!”