Rhode Island Dining Out for Life Benefits AIDS Project RI

On April 30, restaurants across Rhode Island will participate in the 11th Annual Dining Out for Life, a fundraiser for AIDS Project Rhode Island. The concept is simple: eat at a participating restaurant and a portion of the proceeds will benefit AIDS Project Rhode Island.

"We're asking people to visit our website to get the complete list of restaurants, which will continue to grow up to the day of the event," said AIDS Project RI development director Julie Casimiro. "We're pleased to partner with the EatDrinkRI Festival, which is kicking off the same day with 'Dinner by Dames to benefit AIDS Project RI' at Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence."

The following restaurants/food event are participating: In Cranston: Bistro 22; East Greenwich, Grille on Main and Ti� Mateo's; Newport, Despina's Caf� and SpeakEasy; North Kingstown, the Carriage Inn and Bravo Wood Fire Pizza; North Smithfield, Cafe900; Pawtucket, Hose Company #6 and Rasoi; In Providence, Blaze East Side, CAV, Easy Entertaining, EatDrinkRI's "Dinner by Dames," Gracie's, India, Kitchen Bar, Los Andes, New Rivers, Parkside, Pizzico, Three Sisters and Rosalina; in Warren, Federal Hill Pizza; and in Woonsocket, the Burrito Company. The event is sponsored by Rustigian Rugs in Providence.

"We work to fill these restaurants, even introducing their establishment to new customers, so they have a great business day and end up sending a sizeable check to AIDS Project RI," she said. Restaurants donate 25 to 50 pecent from each dinner check -- or checks from all meals on that day -- or donate a flat amount." In 2014, 30 restaurants participated.

Casimiro said that once again, they were honored to have NBC 10's Mario Hilario join them as chairman, saying that his involvement has been critical to help then raise awareness of the event and HIV/AIDS.

"Marking the 10th anniversary of Dining Out for Life in Rhode Island, I am especially honored to chair this important event that brings about awareness of HIV/AIDS as well as raises funds for HIV testing, education and prevention efforts, and to care for people infected with HIV," said Hilario.

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 30," said Coelho. "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."

Organizers said that they encourage their supporters, friends and donors to patronize these partner restaurants, not just on the day of the event, but all year long.

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.