FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steven Henke
[email protected]
(760) 656-8401
Dining Out for Life Coachella Valley Raises $230,000
Local Restaurants Support Desert AIDS Project
PALM SPRINGS, CA (July 12, 2017) More than sixty restaurants participated in Dining Out for Life Coachella Valley on April 27, raising $230,000 for client services at Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.). Because of the generosity of participating restaurant owners and diners, Desert AIDS Project ranks third in overall fundraising as compared to 52 other participating U.S. cities.
Leading the way locally in fundraising this year were LULU California Bistro, Spencer’s Restaurant, and Trio – raising a combined total of $55,399. Each of the top three participants have a long history of supporting Desert AIDS Project and other Coachella Valley non-profits. Five local restaurants donated 100% of their day’s proceeds to D.A.P. — Townie Bagels, 533 Viet Fusion, The Barn Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge, Ristretto for Coffee Lovers, and Rooster and the Pig. Diners at Rooster and the Pig were surprised to learn the entire wait staff had chosen to also donate their tips from the evening to raise funds for client services at Desert AIDS Project.
SAVE THE DATE: The 2018 Dining Out for Life event is Thursday, April 26.
Locally, an estimated 10,000 diners ate breakfast, lunch or dinner during the annual event which also happened in cities across the United States and Canada. Residents of the Coachella Valley woke to find all three news stations broadcasting LIVE from area restaurants during the morning news. “We really can’t underestimate the impact local media coverage had on increasing funds raised this year. Watching a LIVE broadcast reminded the entire valley to ‘Make One Meal Matter’, and it did,” said Desert AIDS Project’s Chief Development Officer, Darrell Tucci.
Click here for the Dining Out for Life website
Dining Out for Life is a national campaign held each year on the last Thursday in April throughout the United States and Canada to raise funds for AIDS Service Organizations. Generous participating restaurants in the Coachella Valley committed to contributing 33% or more of their food, beverage, and liquor gross sales to support Desert AIDS Project.
About Desert AIDS Project
Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Palm Springs, CA offering D.A.P. Total Care – a combination of medical, dental, counseling, social services, support groups, alternative therapies, in-house pharmacy and lab, and other health and wellness services. D.A.P.’s sexual health clinic, The DOCK, offers STD testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. D.A.P.’s Get Tested Coachella Valley campaign, the nation’s first region-wide free HIV testing and access to care initiative, was recognized by the White House for helping to bring about an AIDS-free future. D.A.P. has earned a “Four Star” rating from Charity Navigator for the sixth consecutive year – landing D.A.P. in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that we exceed industry standards in terms of our financial health, accountability and transparency. Visit www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.
###