Eating Out For A Good Cause

By Ella Fleming, Housing Program Coordinator at Roper St. Francis Healthcare

Food and philanthropy are two things people of the Lowcountry do well. On April 26, the second annual Dining Out for Life event is combining these two strengths to raise money for Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s Ryan White Program, a federally funded program that helps coordinate comprehensive medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Dining Out For Life is an annual fundraising event involving the generous participation of volunteers, corporate sponsors and restaurants. In exchange for the their financial support, restaurants are listed in a citywide marketing campaign in an effort to increase customer traffic.

Charleston held its first Dining Out For Life event in 2011. With the participation of more than 20 local restaurants, the evening raised nearly $45,000.

This year, the RSFH Ryan White program goal is to recruit even more restaurants in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties -- and all price ranges -- so that everyone can dine out and fight AIDS. Participating restaurants have the option of donating 10, 25 or 50 percent of their sales.

Dining Out For Life was created in 1991 by an Action AIDS volunteer in Philadelphia. Dining Out is now held in more than 55 cities. More than 3,500 restaurants nationwide donate a portion of their proceeds from this one special night of dining to the licensed agency in their city. In Charleston, this is the RSFH Ryan White Program.

All money raised through Dining Out for Life in Charleston will go to the RSF Ryan White Program’s Medication Endowment Fund, which has been established to provide emergency medication and medical care assistance to its patients.

The majority of people know someone affected by HIV/AIDS. Joining this fun fundraiser will help improve the quality and availability of primary healthcare for those with HIV/AIDS. 

For a complete list of restaurants participating in Charleston’s Dining Out for Life event, please visit www.diningoutforlife.com/charleston. For more information on the Ryan White Program at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, please visit www.ryanwhiteofcharleston.org.

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