This year marks the 17th anniversary of Dining Out for Life, a Tacoma eating extravaganza that goes to benefit the Pierce County AIDS Foundation.
The event is certain to be bigger than ever, with over 70 restaurants participating. Each restaurant has agreed to donate 25 percent of all food sales on the day of the event.
While Dining Out For Life doesn’t occur till April 28, Jacqueline Planttner, one of the owners of Primo Grill, says “we have already begun to receive reservations.”
Primo has been a long time participant; this will be their tenth year being involved with the event, which has allowed them to see the shift in attitude towards Dining Out For Life.
Initially, Planttner said, “people would make reservations not knowing it was a special event…it’s a really busy night where there is lots of flurry and activity and a few grouches did not want to participate.”
As the years have gone on, however, the event has gotten more popular.
“Tacoma seems to love it, it’s a way for the community to connect,” Planttner said.
Surinder Husain, co-owner of Gateway to India, echoed this sentiment saying, “It is a worthwhile cause and good food, that day we are packed.”
Gateway to India has been a participant since 1998, and was donating around $800 every year even before they were making this amount in the 25 percent sales. Now they are able to give close to $1000 to the cause as sales have increased. Primo also boasts similar sales, showing that the fundraiser is a success.
“This event is especially important now, due to the government budget cuts,” Planttner said.
Indeed, Dining Out For Life may be one of the few sources of funding that PCAF will receive this year.
Planttner says that this is a difficult balance to get right, as volunteer ambassadors must be careful to not ask for donations at the wrong point in the meal.
“They seem to be getting it right, and some of the volunteers have worked in the restaurant industry, making it even easier.”
Most restaurants say that it is a very busy night and that result people should make reservations, though drop-ins are always welcome.
For more information about the event as well as a complete list of participating restaurants, check out the website: http://www.diningoutforlife.com/. And be sure to mark your calendars to have a meal out on April 28.