On April 30, Houston diners can be a part of the fight against AIDS simply by choosing to eat at one of the 40-plus Houston restaurants participating in Dining Out for Life. The participating establishments have all agreed to donate a portion of their sales to AIDS Foundation Houston, which earns a huge portion of its operating expenses from this event. "I have been amazed about how the top restaurants in Houston have been so supportive of this event. Everyone at every price point can participate and feel great about eating out on April 30," said Dining Out for Life event chair Jessica Rossman.
An ActionAIDS volunteer in Philadelphia created Dining Out for Life in 1991. Since then the event has been hosted annually in cities across the United States and Canada, with Houston being an integral participant since the event's inception. Diners can be reassured that the funds raised from their meal will stay close to home thanks to a mandate ensuring that funds raised in a city remain local.
Dining Out for Life continues to grow annually, with 58 cities participating in the program for 2015. The organization has also raised over $4 million since it began. This one night alone provides local service organizations with a whopping 15.4 percent of their annual expenses.
AIDS Foundation Houston uses its funds to help the city in many ways. "Dining Out for Life not only raises money to end HIV/AIDS but also raises awareness about the disease," said Kelly Young, chief executive officer of AIDS Foundation Houston. AIDS Foundation Houston was the first organization dedicated to HIV prevention in Texas. Its mission is to help those who are already infected with the HIV/AIDS virus and to educate in an attempt to lessen new cases. The organization has reached over 6,000 Houston residents and 90,000 people statewide. "We have a chance to end HIV/AIDS within our lifetime," Kelly added.
The restaurants participating in the 2015 fundraising event can be visited throughout their daily hours. A variety of options are available for interested patrons-from breakfast to a late-night snack-at every price point and from simple and traditional to exotic and elegant.
2015 Dining Out for Life participating restaurants (as of early April)
Americas
Arturo Boada Cuisine
Baby Barnaby's
Barnaby's Downtown
Barnaby's Heights
Barnaby's Woodway
Barnaby's West Gray
Brasserie 19
The Original Barnaby's Fairview
Bombay Pizza Company
Café Piquet Cuban Cuisine
Canopy
Canyon Creek
Cedar Creek
Coppa Osteria
dgn Factory
Dry Creek
El Tiempo 1308 Cantina Montrose
El Tiempo Cantina Midtown
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Harold's Restaurant, Bar & Terrace
Ibiza Food & Wine Bar
Jenni's Noodle House Shepherd
Jenni's Noodle House Heights
Jenni's Noodle House Post Oak
Last Concert Café
Latin Bites
Liberty Kitchen River Oaks
Lowbrow
Niko Nikos Market Square
Niko Nikos Montrose
Onion Creek
Pepperoni's Montrose
Prohibition
RDG + Bar Annie
Shade
Tila's Restaurante & Bar
Zelko Bistro
By Jenn Haight
