Dining to fight AIDS

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When Dining Out for Life comes to the Las Vegas Valley next week, community members will have the opportunity to help a local nonprofit group by simply going out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

"The possibilities are endless for this fundraiser," said the Rev. Joseph O'Brien, founder and executive director of the Saint Therese Center.

Dining Out for Life is an international event and benefits persons living with HIV/AIDS. During the event, participating restaurants pledge a portion of their April 27 proceeds to HIV/AIDS agencies. Last year, more than 25 cities across the U.S. participated.

The Saint Therese Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping provide food, clothing, furniture, educational services and complimentary therapies to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS in the Southern Nevada community.

The center has served the Las Vegas community since 1998, and is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas.

O'Brien said the Saint Therese Center will send volunteer representatives to some participating restaurants to give out information about Dining Out for Life and the Saint Therese Center. Other restaurants have sent employees to the center to be educated about the programs, and those employees will talk to diners about the programs.

O'Brien said at least 20 restaurants across the Las Vegas Valley are set to participate in the area's inaugural Dining Out for Life.

Brian Marcus, food and beverage director for the Renaissance Las Vegas, said ENVY Steakhouse will be one of the participating restaurants. The eatery is located inside the Renaissance Las Vegas, 3400 Paradise Road.

"Working with the Saint Therese Center is a very worthwhile cause," he said. "It's really a no-brainer. When we were approached, we embraced it with open arms. I think we were the first to sign up."

Most participating restaurants will donate proceeds from either breakfast, lunch or dinner, while some will participate during lunch and dinner, and two, ENVY Steakhouse and Bistro Zinc, will participate during all three meals.

"Most of the restaurants have pledged either 20 percent or a set amount, though Gustav Mahler's Sazio at The Orleans has pledged 50 percent of their proceeds," O'Brien said.

He also said that in cities where Dining Out for Life is well-established, some restaurants donate 100 percent of their proceeds for the day, and wait staff donate their tips.

At the end of their meals, restaurant patrons also will receive a lottery envelope. O'Brien said they can choose to make a donation, though it isn't required, and all envelopes will be entered into a raffle.

"We have some phenomenal prizes lined up," he said. "The first prize is a custom pin from M.J. Christensen jewelers, with an AIDS ribbon wrapped around a fork and knife. We also have a $200 beauty basket from Kiehl's and certificates for lots of restaurants."

All envelopes must be turned in to the Saint Therese Center by June 1 to participate in the raffle.

"It's a great cause and it's a great organization," Marcus said.

Marcus advised community members who want to participate in Dining Out for Life to make reservations with participating restaurants in advance.

"We want to donate as much as we possibly can," he said. "We hope diners will come out in droves."

Though Dining Out for Life started hosting events about 16 years ago, this is the first time an HIV/AIDS group in the Las Vegas Valley will participate. O'Brien hopes that in coming years, the event will become popular enough to bring in another AIDS agency to collaborate on the event.

"People here who have participated in Dining Out for Life in other cities loved it, and really wanted to participate," O'Brien said. "I knew about it from the time I spent working in other cities, and I thought, 'Why aren't we doing this here?' There are so many restaurants here."

With few exceptions, restaurants across the country will participate in Dining Out for Life on April 27.

"We're very excited about this event," O'Brien said. "Philadelphia has been involved with Dining Out for Life for years, and they have close to 300 restaurants now. We would love to grow to that eventually."

For more information and a list of participating local restaurants, visit www.diningoutforlife.com. The Saint Therese Center is located at 67 E. Lake Mead Drive in Henderson. For more information on the center, visit www.sainttheresecenter.org.