A few of West Seattle’s very own restauranteurs will be joining in on the 16th year of Seattle's Dining Out for Life, an annual dining fundraiser to raise money for AIDS service organizations.
“Lifelong (Aids Alliance) with Dining Out International, team up to produce the event and we approach a lot of restauranteurs every year,” Trevor Dewitt, communication relations of Lifelong Aids Alliance said. “There are no national chains they’re all local and the community coming together. It turns out to be a big win for everyone involved.”
Created in 1991 by an ActionAids volunteer in Philadelphia, Dining Out is now produced in more than 55 cities through the United States and Canada, according to the Dining Out For Life Web site.
This year the event falls on April 30.
“Supporters and diners basically go out to involved restaurants and in return restaurants donate back 30 percent of their sales that night,” Dewitt said.
Jessie Summa-Kusiak, owner of Skylark Cafe and Club, said they have been involved in the event every year since they’ve been open, this being their third year.
“I would expect customers to be looking for an affordable way to dine out and feel good about relatively painless charitable giving,” she said. “I know I’ve cut back on charitable giving myself this year out of necessity, but Dine Out for Life is so well organized, promoted and I believe in the cause, so I never considered not participating. We are looking forward to it.”
They will be offering a Red Ribbon Cosmo special that night.
Bringing in about a quarter of a million dollars each year in Seattle and about $3.1 million nationwide, Dewitt said they’ve had a great response despite the climate of the economy.
“It’s a testimony of how great the local restaurants are,” he said. “A lot of those involved have pulled out of other charitable events but they’ve still decided that they want to be involved with Dining Out.”
In West Seattle, participating restaurants include the Skylark Cafe and Club, Abbondanza Pizzeria and Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill and Buddha Ruksa.
