Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? During the annual Dining Out For Life events held across the nation, indulging at your favorite restaurant is a win-win-win situation: You raise funds for local HIV service providers, you support the eateries and you enjoy a delicious meal.

The fundraiser’s official kickoff date each year is the last Thursday of April—April 28 in 2022—though numerous cities participate on different dates, including April 26 and 27.

Visit DiningOutForLife.com for the complete list of nearly 60 participating cities. Click on the city to find links to participating restaurants and information about the local AIDS service organizations being supported.

You can also learn about local events on Dining Out For Life’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and by searching hashtags such as #DiningOutForLife, #DineOutEndHIV, #DOFL and #DineOutGiveBack.

In general, the way the fundraiser works is very simple: You dine out at a participating restaurant, and a portion of the proceeds of your meal goes to a local HIV/AIDS organization. In many cases, you can also order gift certificates and takeout as well (to-go orders became necessary during the worst of the COVID-19 shutdowns when folks couldn’t eat at restaurants).

Each year, according to DiningOutForLife.com, over 50 local HIV service organizations partner with more than 2,400 restaurants, 4,100 volunteers and 300,000 diners to raise over $4.5 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. What’s more, the funds raised in each city help support people and organizations in that city.

Now in its 26th year, Dining Out For Life has been sponsored by Subaru since 2006. Celebrity spokespeople include foodie Ted Allen (Chopped! and the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) fashion designer Mondo Guerra (Project Runway All Stars and the cover of POZ) and actress Pam Grier (Foxy Brown and Jackie Brown).

Most events are held from April through December. In a few instances, the fundraisers are held not just in a city but throughout a county, region or state.

Here’s a list of locales hosting Dining Out For Life events throughout April and May:

Tuesday, April 26

  • San Francisco
  • Palm Beach County, Florida

Wednesday, April 27

  • Atlanta
  • Tampa Bay

Thursday, April 28

  • Greater Palm Springs, California
  • Central Florida
  • Philadelphia
  • San Diego
  • Miami
  • Birmingham, Alabama
  • Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs
  • Connecticut
  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • Albany, New York
  • Asheville, North Carolina
  • Minnesota
  • Charleston, South Carolina

Thursday, May 12

  • Hampton Roads, Virginia

Tuesday, May 17

  • Nashville

Thursday, May 19

  • Memphis

For recent news about efforts to support HIV organizations, see “Elton John and Lil Nas X Reign as Rock Stars of HIV Fundraisers” and “An Enchanted Evening for Health Equity Raises $1.4 Million for HIV Services in Coachella Valley.”