No Charlestown,
Westerly or SK restaurants on the list yet
By Stephen Hug
For the first
time in memory, AIDS Project Rhode Island’s “Dining Out for Life” event will
feature three co-chairs.
The 11th
annual Dining Out for Life takes place this year on Thursday, April 30 at
participating restaurants across the Rhode Island area. Funds raised
benefit AIDS Project Rhode Island.
“Once again, we
are honored to have NBC 10’s Mario Hilario join us,” said AIDS Project Rhode
Island’s development director Julie Casimiro. “His involvement has been
critical to helping us raise awareness of the event and HIV/AIDS,” she said.
Mr. Hilario has been anchoring NBC 10 Weekend Sunrise since 1997, is an
Associated Press award winner, and is a five-time Emmy award nominee.
“The snow and
ice should be but a memory on April 30th, as AIDS Project Rhode
Island holds the 11th annual Dining Out for Life,” said Mr.
Hilario. “It has become a celebration of spring, as people across the
state support the fight against HIV and AIDS by visiting a participating
restaurant and enjoying a meal. Let’s hope we won’t be still
shoveling snow!”
Two other event
chairs have been added to this year’s Dining Out for Life: David Dadekian,
founder and president of Eat Drink RI, a leading local culinary media,
marketing and event production company; and Jamie Coelho, an associate editor at Rhode Island Monthly and the
producer of the food and restaurant email newsletter “The Dish.”
“We are so
excited to kick off the four-day Eat Drink RI Festival by participating in
Dining Out for Life on April 30th,” he said. “Our opening
event is the Dinner by Dames Farmers Feast at the Casino at Roger
Williams Park, and we are pleased to
support AIDS Project RI by donating a portion of our proceeds from the dinner
to the organization.”
“Restaurants
should show their support for fighting HIV and AIDS through Dining Out for
Life,” said Ms. Coelho. People across Rhode Island will dine out to raise money
for a great cause, and restaurants that participate will be applauded.”
On Thursday,
April 30th participating restaurants will donate a portion of their
proceeds to AIDS Project Rhode Island. “We work to fill their restaurants
with patrons, so they have a great business day and add to their base of
regular customers,” she said.
Currently she is
recruiting restaurants to participate. Already signed up are:
- in Newport: SpeakEasy Bar & Grill;
- in Pawtucket: Hose Company No. 6, and Rasoi;
- in Providence: Blaze Eastside, Gracie’s, India, Rosalina and Eat Drink RI’s “Dinner by Dames Farmer Feast” at Roger Williams Casino.
Interested
restaurants should contact her at 401-519-2289 or Julie@aidsprojectri.org. Restaurants
donate 25 to 50% from each dinner check—or checks from all meals on
that day—or donate a flat amount. In 2014, 30 restaurants
participated.
For more than 30 years, AIDS Project Rhode Island has
provided HIV/AIDS prevention and education services, as well as assistance for
people living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Project RI is a division of Family
Service of RI. More information is available at www.aidsprojectri.org.