A look back at 2014 at The Damien Center

It's officially the last day of 2014, and we're officially running on adrenaline from all the exciting things that happened here over the past year! It was a busy one, and in the spirit of looking back in order to look forward, we put together this little Storify to help us out.

It's populated by photos from our Instagram, so if you like what you're seeing, hop on over and follow along for our 2015 adventures. Enjoy!

Dine out for life on Thursday!

Do you like to eat dinner? How about breakfast or lunch? Yeah, we thought so. If you like to eat food, tomorrow is a GREAT day for you to support The Damien Center. It's Dining Out for Life! It's reaaaaalllyyy easy to give back to The Damien Center, because all you have to do is go out to eat at a participating restaurant! On top of that, 45 area restaurants are participating, and they stretch from Zionsville to Greenwood and everywhere in between.

So, how does it work? Participating restaurants will donate 25-100% of your bill to support The Damien Center and hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS right here in our community. Supporting the fight against AIDS is as easy as grabbing a bite to eat—you don't have to mention the event, bring a flyer, or do anything else except buy a meal. At diningoutforlife.com/indianapolis, you can search by cuisine, location, donation amount and more to find the perfect Dining Out for Life restaurant for you. We've tried to make it as easy as possible for you to help fight AIDS in our community. Please help us make sure that no one faces AIDS alone by Dining Out for Life!

The generosity of our restaurant participants coupled with your additional donation will make a very real difference in the lives of thousands of men, women, and children throughout the region living with HIV and AIDS. Please join us for Indy's 20th Annual Dining Out for Life on Thursday, April 24, 2014!

Introducing, our wonderful sponsors!

We have to admit, Dining Out for Life is one of the most fun times of the year for us. We get to see an incredible coming together of volunteers, our own staff members, people who like going out to eat, our supporters in the community, and, of course, dozens of local businesses. On top of our 45 participating restaurants, we're incredibly lucky to count many wonderful local partners among our Dining Out for Life sponsors. Their support helps us maximize funds raised for this event, meaning that, you guessed it, more money raised goes straight to the local fight against HIV.

Without further adieu, we present our 2014 Dining Out for Life sponsors! These and our restaurants are the businesses you want to support throughout the year, the ones who are truly giving back to our community through this event and others. Cheers!

Drumroll please ... Announcing Dining Out for Life 2014 restaurants!

Where will YOU be dining out on April 24? Each of every one of the incredible restaurants below will be giving 25, 50, or 100% of your bill to The Damien Center and the local fight against HIV/AIDS, so pick a place, or two or three places, and get ready to EAT! It's as easy as it gets - no special menus, no flyers to present. All you have to do is eat, drink, and have a great time to help make our community healthier through what we do at The Damien Center. Read on for some great eats. Questions? Visit diningoutforlife.com/indianapolis for more info.

2014 Participating Restaurants

Champion Restaurants (Giving 100%)

135 N. Pennsylvania St., 2nd Floor | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 672-7591 | Breakfast, Lunch


1043 Virginia Ave. #6 | Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 822-4764 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Premier Restaurants (Giving 50%)

110 E. Washington St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 822-9990 | Lunch, Dinner


822 N. Illinois St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 636-5597 | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night


765 Massachusetts Ave | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 634-4545 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night


906 S. Meridian St. | Indianapolis, IN 46225
(317) 636-0700 | Lunch, Dinner


707 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 639-6022 | Dinner, Late Night


1 N. Pennsylvania St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 829-PITA (7482) | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner



2442 N. Central Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46205
(317) 441-1047 | Lunch, Dinner



137 E. Ohio St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 426-5280 | Lunch, Dinner


1417 Prospect St. | Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 917-1117 | Lunch, Dinner


755 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 634-4545 | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Partner restaurants (Giving 25%)
Arni's Restaurant Indianapolis
4705 E. 96th St. | Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 571-0077 | Lunch, Dinner

Arni's Restaurant Greenwood
1691 W. Curry Rd. | Greenwood, IN 46143
(317) 881-0500 | Lunch, Dinner

Athens on 86th
2284 W. 86th St. | Indianapolis, IN 46260
(317) 879-8644 | Lunch, Dinner

Beefcake Burgers
1642 Olive Branch Parke Ln. | Greenwood, IN 46143
(317) 215-4192 | Lunch, Dinner

BRU Burger Bar
410 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 635-4278 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Café Patachou
8697 River Crossing Blvd. | Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 815-0765 | Breakfast, Lunch

Café Patachou
4901 N. Pennsylvania St. | Indianapolis, IN 46205
(317) 925-2823 | Breakfast, Lunch

Café Patachou
225 W. Washington St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 632-0765 | Breakfast, Lunch

Canal Bistro
6349 Guilford Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 254-8700 | Lunch, Dinner

Cerulean
339 S. Delaware St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 870-1320 | Lunch, Dinner

Chef Joseph's at the Connoisseur Room
115 E. Ohio St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 600-3577 | Lunch, Dinner

The Columbia Club
121 Monument Circle | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 767-1361 | Lunch, Dinner

End of the Line Public House
1105 Shelby St. | Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 687-4857 | Lunch, Dinner

English Ivy's
944 N. Alabama St. | Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 822-5070 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Greek's Pizzeria Zionsville
30 N. Main St. | Zionsville, IN 46077
(317) 344-2999 | Lunch, Dinner

Hellas Café
8501 Westfield Blvd. | Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 257-6211 | Lunch, Dinner

Just Pop In!
6302 Guilford Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 257-9338 | Dessert

La Margarita Fountain Square
1043 Virginia Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 384-1457 | Lunch, Dinner

Late Harvest Kitchen
8605 River Crossing Blvd. | Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 663-8063 | Dinner

The Legend Classic Irvington Café
5614 E. Washington St. | Indianapolis, IN 46219
(317) 536-2028 | Lunch, Dinner

Mama Irma's Restaurant
1058 Virginia Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 423-2421 | Lunch, Dinner

Marco's Restaurant & Lounge
2380 E. 54th St. | Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 251-7000 | Lunch, Dinner

Mass Avenue Pub
745 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 974-0745 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Mesh on Mass
725 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 955-9600 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Monon Coffee Company in Broad Ripple
920 E. Westfield Blvd. | Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 255-0510 | Breakfast

Monon Coffee Company Downtown
2442 N. Central Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46205
(317) 255-0510 | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

R bistro
888 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 423-0312 | Lunch, Dinner

Ralph's Great Divide
743 E. New York St. | Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 637-2192 | Lunch, Dinner

Recess and Room Four
4907 N. College Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46250
(317) 925-7529| Dinner

Siam Square
936 Virginia Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 636-8424 | Lunch, Dinner

Tini
717 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 384-1313 | Dinner, Late Night

Winner's Circle Pub, Grill & OTB
20 N. Pennsylvania St. | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 656-7223 | Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

Yiayia's House of Pancakes
1694 W. Main St. | Greenwood, IN 46224
(317) 888-6800 | Breakfast, Lunch

Dining Out for Life Call-out: Restaurants and Ambassadors, we need you!

In just over three months, you can be a hero. OUR hero! It's the 20th anniversary of Indy's largest dining fundraiser, Dining Out for Life, which raises much-needed funds to help us continue to fight HIV in our community and support those affected by it. Maybe you already know how it works, but if not, crash course: 40+ local restaurants sign on to give us a percentage of their proceeds (25, 50, or 100%) for ONE day (Thursday, April 24), and it's awesome. Hands down one of the easiest ways you can help us do what we do is just to go out to eat at one of our restaurants (check out 2013 participants here: diningoutforlife.com/indianapolis/restaurants). You don't even have to mention the event - our restaurants agree to give us a percentage of ALL sales on April 24.

BUT. We also know there are some of you out there who want to take your commitment up a notch, and for that we present: Ambassadorship. Ambassadors are our stellar volunteers who spend a couple hours on April 24 at one of our restaurants telling people about HIV and The Damien Center and helping raise additional moolah. If it sounds daunting, don't worry. As long as you can commit to a training session and a shift on the day of the event, we'll make sure you're equipped with knowledge, materials, scripts, and action plans to be successful.

And restaurant owners? You're another critical cog in this amazing Dining Out for Life machine. In exchange for your incredible generosity in giving us a percentage of your proceeds, we do everything we can think of to get your name out there. We put up posters, tweet out tweets, run ads, leverage our word-of-mouth network, and put our Ambassadors (see above) to work recruiting diners for your restaurant. And besides the warm fuzzies you'll get from knowing you did something pretty awesome for your community, we'd like to add that some of our established Dining Out for Life restaurants report that they're not only busy the day of the event - they also see a lot of return business from DOFL customers, who honor their community-minded spirit all year long.

Ready to learn more? Potential Ambassadors, learn more and sign up here: diningoutforlife.com/indianapolis/volunteer. Restaurant owners, here: diningoutforlife.com/indianapolis/sign-up-your-restaurant

Thanks in advance for being our hero!

Top Posts of 2013

We've had a fun year with you, blog-readers. We've chatted about what pizza has to do with our food pantry, the 44 amazing restaurants that gave back through Dining Out for Life, and our insanely awesome volunteers, who keep things chugging along. Plus, we got excited about chili and tried to convince you to volunteer once. Okay, maybe twice. We also touched on some really serious and important topics, like what one incredible young woman is doing to fight HIV stigma in our community, how we're working to support high-risk groups, and what our strategy is for successfully preventing the spread of HIV and empowering those affected by it.      

So, we thought it'd be fun to look back and see what your favorite posts were this year. Take a read through these top posts, and then tell us what you'd like to read about in 2014. Enjoy!

Top Posts of 2013 

5. Forty Five Degrees, Yogulatte owner long-time Damien supporter - April 23, 2013

4. Go see Naked Boys Singing and support The Damien Center! - February 8, 2013

3. Costume Ideas: The Disco Ball Edition - September 24, 2013

2. Why Santorini Greek Kitchen gives back - April 5, 2013

1. Do you need to get linked? - May 30, 2013

The 19th Annual Dining Out for Life was a smashing success!

In case you had any doubts, we here at The Damien Center have cause to be grateful every single minute of the day for people, organizations, businesses, and other groups who give so generously to support what we do. So on the heels of one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, Dining Out for Life (the other is the Grande Masquerade), we have a LOT to be thankful for! This year's event is set to exceed both last year's funds raised and this year's goal. Here's who we have to thank:

Let's start with our participating restaurants. An incredible 46 restaurants participated in Dining Out for Life this year and gave us at least 25% of their day's sales on April 25, including seven that gave 50% and one very special eatery that gave 100%! Without the commitment of these 46 amazing dining spots, we truly wouldn't have a Dining Out for Life at all. Already itching for next year's (20th!) annual event? We encourage everyone to continue dining out at these fantastic restaurants all year long to show their owners just how much we appreciate them!

In addition to the contributions made by our participating restaurants, funds and awareness raised by Dining Out for Life also depend on a key group of volunteers. Our volunteer restaurant ambassadors spend their own time at each participating restaurant telling each and every diner about The Damien Center and collecting additional contributions. This year, ambassadors raised more than $23,000, a 32% increase over last year! Ambassadors work hard to share their passion for The Damien Center with diners across Central Indiana during Dining Out for Life, and we thank them for all that they do.

Another portion of funds raised for the event comes from businesses and individuals who support The Damien Center in the form of sponsorships. All those colorful logos you see on our posters and materials? Those are our Dining Out for Life sponsors! These are the businesses you want to support here in Indianapolis. They help us put on this event through their sponsorship, and many help us promote it through various media outlets. Sponsors, you are the tops!

And last but certainly not least, we have YOU to thank, diners! By Dining Out for Life, you're helping us continue to lower our community's HIV viral load and improve the overall health of our community through the services we provide completely free of charge. 

We'll be back with another update later this summer, once we have a final fundraising total to announce!

Still deciding where to dine out? Downtown Olly's and Greek Islands giving 50%

If you're boring and don't want to have fun tomorrow, stop reading this right now. But if you want to laugh, be entertained, and nosh on some treats, all for a good cause, you've come to the right place! Downtown Olly's and The Greek Islands Restaurant, both Premier restaurants giving 50% of your bill to The Damien Center during this year's Dining Out for Life, are hands down two of the most fun restaurants we've got here in Indy.

Downtown Olly's, for starters, is open 24 hours a day. You read that right: sunrise to sunset and everywhere in between. So whether you're looking for a snack after a late night out, hungry for lunch, or just out and about looking for a fun stop, Olly's is the place. Besides being our only 24-hour restaurant to participate in Dining Out for Life, Olly's makes sure every guest is entertained. The atmosphere is vibrant, the decor is bright and fun, and the staff is super friendly. On top of that, Olly's usually has some kind of entertainment going on, like drag shows and karaoke.


A few of our favorite menu items? Start with the bleu cheese sticks and fried green tomatoes, then make the Asian chicken wrap your main entree. And remember: since Olly's is open 24 hours, you can visit anytime on April 25 (tomorrow!) and know that a very generous 50% of your bill is going to the local fight against HIV/AIDS! Lunch specials tomorrow will be penne pasta in a tomato cream sauce with blackened chicken, spinach, onions, and mushrooms, or Olly's taco salad. Either is $6.95. Dinner specials include grilled tilapia with a fresh mango, pineapple, avocado, and mint salsa, or Cuban-style chicken with a delicious black bean sauce and yellow rice. Either is $12.95. Plus, beginning at 9:15pm, Olly's will be hosting a Benefit Drag Show to bring in additional donations for Dining Out for Life. The lineup so far includes Miss Gay Indiana Vanessa Ryan, Mr. Gay Indiana Elite St. James, Tia Mirage Hall, and Silky Ganache. Shantel Sifuentes will host the show and also do a couple of numbers! Food + drag show + a great cause? Win win win!

Not in the mood for drag? The family-friendly folks at The Greek Islands Restaurant are ready to bring YOU into the family with homemade delicacies and some of our favorite Greek food in Indy. It's really a no-brainer, in our opinion, to get the saganaki (flaming cheese) at Greek Islands, and not just for the OPA! part. It's really good. Like, really really good. In fact go ahead and order a couple of them. You won't regret it. The restaurant itself is cozy, but we kind of like that, because it feels a little like you're joining owners Angela and George for dinner in their home, and the food tastes like it too, in the best way possible. Any of the authentic Greek entrees on the menu won't let you down, and the gyros and sandwiches are excellent lunch selections. For lunch or dinner, we especially love the dolmades, which are grape leaves stuffed full of juicy ground beef and rice, then topped with a sweet and tangy lemon sauce. Don't skimp on the side dishes either! The traditional Greek green beans and potatoes are both worth trying. We always feel like we're part of the family at Greek Islands, and the restaurant's generous donation of 50% of sales tomorrow makes it even sweeter.

Find locations and hours for Downtown Olly's and The Greek Islands Restaurant at diningoutforlife.com, and visit us Facebook and Twitter for ongoing updates about Dining Out for Life.

Forty Five Degrees, Yogulatte owner long-time Damien supporter

Before his chic Mass Ave restaurant and coffeeshop/yogurt destination were born into existence, Bill Pritt was a volunteer for The Damien Center. As a Buddy in the Center's Buddy Program, Bill spent time with those living with HIV, helping them out with big things and little things, and walking alongside them, as a friend, through the good times and bad. Eventually, after the Buddy Program transitioned into a variety of different programs and services, Bill transitioned into volunteering as a Dining Out for Life Ambassador, representing The Damien Center and talking to diners about what it means to support the local fight against HIV/AIDS.

So, when Bill opened his first Indy restaurant in 2006, it was only natural that he would sign Blu Martini up to participate as a Premier Restaurant, giving 50% of proceeds for one day to The Damien Center. Since then, Bill has focused his time and efforts toward opening and developing Forty Five Degrees and Yogulatte, his two side-by-side Mass Ave eateries. Opened in 2008 and 2010, respectively, each restaurant gives at the Premier level, so a generous 50% of diners' bills goes back to the local fight against AIDS.

"It's my favorite check that I write all year long," Bill says of his support for the Center and the event. "You can't do everything, but you can do something, so we decided to do this."

Here at The Damien Center, we encourage our supporters, friends, and Dining Out for Life diners to keep returning to our participating restaurants all year, to continue saying thank you for the generosity these restaurants show us each April. And according to Bill, Dining Out does matter to his customers. "People recognize our support throughout the year," he says.

While many diners (including us!) return to Dining Out for Life restaurants to continue showing our support all year long, we also think people go back to Forty Five Degrees and Yogulatte for the food and drinks! Many know FortyFive Degrees for their sushi, which is no doubt top-of-the-line, but we're also fond of the Forty Five Salad (with grilled salmon ... mmm), lettuce wraps, and oh so much more. And let's not even get into the martinis. You can't go wrong!

At Yogulatte, which is an obvious post-Forty Five Degrees dessert stop (or really pre- or post-anything dessert stop), you get to build your own frozen yogurt treat from start to finish. And it's really fun. First, you pick your yogurt flavor, or two or three if you want. Rich, creamy, classic flavors like peanut butter, raspberry, vanilla bean, chocolate, and strawberry site alongside quirky offerings like dulce de leche, toasted marshmallow, and cake batter. And that doesn't even account for the fat-free options, dairy-free options, and double-duty dispensers, which feature two flavors in one (chocolate/peanut butter anyone?). Then, the toppings. OH, the toppings. Crushed Oreos, fresh fruit, sprinkles - you name it, they've prepped it. A scoop here, a scoop there, and you've got a handcrafted dessert. Yogulatte also serves coffee and other hot drinks, so we also like to stop by for our daily caffeine boost when we're running low.

Convinced yet? Dine out at Forty Five Degrees, Yogulatte, or any of our participating restaurants THIS THURSDAY and 25-100% of your bill will go back to The Damien Center and the local fight against HIV/AIDS!

See Pita Pit, Punch Burger, and Red Lion on FOX59!

This Saturday and Sunday, tune in to the FOX59 weekend morning show around around 9:50am and you're going to get a special treat from two of our Dining Out for Life restaurant owners. You'll be cooking with the pros when Travis Sealls and Wally Bolinger put on their chef's hats and share their secrets. Travis, who owns Indy's new burger darling Punch Burger as well as the downtown Indy Pita Pit, will be live on Saturday to share some fresh, healthy recipes with viewers. Red Lion Grog House owner Wally will be on the show Sunday morning to share some Red Lion favorites that are certain to make your mouth water. (Seriously. Have you had the fish and chips? The buffalo burger? Bangers and mash?)

The best part? All three restaurants - Punch Burger, Pita Pit, and Red Lion Grog House - are among our top supporters for the 19th Annual Dining Out for Life Indianapolis! As our returning Champion Restaurant, Red Lion will be donating 100% of sales on April 25 to The Damien Center and the local fight against HIV/AIDS. Punch Burger and Pita Pit, both Premier Restaurants, will each be donating a generous 50% of next Thursday's sales, making it easy for downtown folks or those in a rush to still squeeze in a good meal for a great cause.

So let's talk about food. Besides featuring some of Indy's best fish and chips, as noted, Red Lion's menu is somehow both classically English and deliciously American. Sometimes English food gets a bad name for being bland, but not at Wally's joint. This blogger had no idea she liked shepherd's pie until she tried Wally's version, which is filled with savory, seasoned meats and veggies cooked into a thick, chili-like consistency and topped with creamy garlic mashed potatoes. You won't regret trying something new if it's from Red Lion. In a pickle about what to order? Just start eyeing the tables around you - something incredible is sure to catch your tummy's attention!

Indy's downtown Pita Pit, as those who like or work down in the mile square know, is the ideal quick-healthy-fresh lunch spot. You can build your own pita from available ingredients (everything from meats, veggies, and cheeses to red thai curry sauce and black beans) or choose from pre-planned pitas. You can go classic Mediterranean with falafels and hummus, go meat-heavy with a club or Philly steak, or stay healthy with a range of "light" options. Pitas take on a life of their own at Pita Pit, and you can feel good about your healthy choices.

Lastly, Punch Burger's menu is all about locally sourced, high-quality burgers and craft beer at a great price. All of Punch Burger's angus beef comes from local cattle farmer Dave Fischer. Dave raises his cattle humanely with no hormones or antibiotics, right here in Indiana (Jasper, to be exact). Once the beef reaches Punch, it takes on a new life as Travis and his staff dress it up with everything from the classics (Lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, ketchup, mayo, American cheese. Done.) to the I-never-thought-that-would-taste-good-on-a-burger (Peanut butter, onion, Asian slaw, sweet chili sauce. Thai Burger.). You can also build your own burger, and don't forget to grab a pint of local brew from Upland, Triton, Flat 12, and more.

Now that we are officially salivating (and we hope you are, too), let's take a break for lunch. Go visit these three truly generous eateries today, and then go back next Thursday for Dining Out for Life. Find the full list of participating restaurants at diningoutforlife.com.

*Note: The juicy, cheesy burger and tots featured up top were photographed by WhonPhoto. Contact Chris@WhonPhoto.com for details.

Why Santorini Greek Kitchen gives back

This time of year, our days are filled with Dining Out for Life Ambassador trainings, last-minute preparations for one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and lots of time spent communicating with our participating restaurants about the upcoming event. Indy's largest dining fundraiser is less than three weeks away, so this week, we got out and about in the city and delivered promo materials to all our restaurants so we can all get the word out. Lucky for us, Jeanette Sawi, co-owner of Santorini Greek Kitchen, had a few minutes to sit down with us and share why her restaurant continues to support The Damien Center via Dining Out for Life year after year after year.

A little background: In addition to serving up incredibly rich and flavorful Greek delicacies, Santorini is also one of our longest running Dining Out for Life participants. The event is in its 19th year, and Santorini has been on board for well over a decade. So why The Damien Center and why Dining Out?

Pre-Santorini, Jeanette was a nurse. While she was still a nursing student in Houston, TX, in the mid-1980s, Jeannette worked on the HIV/AIDS wing of a Houston hospital and saw the epidemic rear its ugly head on a daily basis. She saw people dying alone, hopeless and helpless, praying for a cure but knowing they wouldn't see one in their lifetime. So, as a nurse, she did her best to care for those with HIV, helping them live their last hours with dignity, showing them that no matter how stigmatized HIV was and would continue to be, she would continue to care. Incidentally, this was the objective of The Damien Center in its early days as well. When the agency was founded in 1987, at a time when little hope was on the horizon for a cure or better treatments, its staff and volunteers walked with people in their last days so they would know they were cared for until the end.

Today? Today, we are so fortunate to be helping people live instead of die. We are fortunate to see weekly and monthly breakthroughs in treatment and possible cures. We are fortunate to have 30+ HIV drugs on the market that do an exceptional job of saving lives. When Jeanette got into the restaurant business, she wanted to honor that part of herself that saw what she saw in Houston - the nurse, the caretaker. Supporting The Damien Center through Dining Out for Life is one (we think really generous) way that she gets to do that, and for this, we are so grateful.

We say our sincerest thanks to Jeanette and Santorini Greek Kitchen, which will be donating 50% of sales on April 25 back to The Damien Center and the local fight against HIV. Make a reservation at Santorini for April 25 by calling 317.917.1117. OPA!

Extra! Extra! 44 Indy restaurants to fight AIDS on April 25

We know, we've been teasing you. Mentioning our Dining Out for Life restaurants on Twitter, sharing their photos on Facebook, pinning foodie pics on Pinterest - we're getting excited just thinking about the dozens of Indy-area restaurants set to donate a big chunk of their sales to The Damien Center on April 25! But where's the list, you ask? Where can I dine? How will I know how much my restaurant is giving? Well, we're here to day to give you the full restaurant list so you can get started plotting for April 25. This list has been building over on our Dining Out for Life International web page, and we've got a map over there too so you can which restaurants are nearby, but here's scoop on 2013 Dining Out for Life restaurants, by neighborhood/area. There's a restaurant for everyone!

2013 Participating Restaurants Donating 25%

* Donating 50% of

   your bill

** Donating 100%

Broad Ripple

Bazbeaux

Café Patachou

JT’s Grille & Bar

Marco’s Restaurant

Monon Coffee Co.

Recess

Twenty Tap

Mass Ave

Aesop’s Tables

Bazbeaux

Forty Five Degrees *

Mesh on Mass

Metro Nightclub & Restaurant 

R bistro

Tini

Yogulatte *

Carmel

Bazbeaux

Café Patachou

Greenwood

Arni’s Restaurant

East Side

The Legend Classic Irvington Café

Downtown

Adobo Grill

Bosphorus Istanbul Café

Café Patachou

Cerulean

Chef Joseph’s at the Connoisseur Room

The Columbia Club

Creation Café

Downtown Olly’s *

English Ivy’s

Greek Islands Restaurant *

Hoosier Park’s Winner’s Circle Pub, Grille & OTB

Iaria’s Restaurant

Monon Coffee Co.

Palomino

The Pita Pit *

Punch Burger *

Ralph’s Great Divide

Fountain Square

B’s Po Boy

La Margarita

Red Lion Grog House **

Santorini Greek Kitchen *

North Side

Arni’s Restaurant

Athens on 86th

Café Patachou

Hellas Café

Top 5 Reasons You Haven't Signed Up to Volunteer Yet

Time is running out, potential Ambassadors! We only have a couple dozen spots left for Dining Out for Life Ambassadors, so if you're ready to help us fight AIDS on April 25, sign up ASAP. We're making it really easy to sign up online this year, so take a few seconds and tell us a little about yourself right here.

On the fence about volunteering for DOFL? Want to know a little more? We present:

Top 5 Reasons You Haven't Signed Up to Volunteer Yet
(i.e. your best excuses and our best persuasions) 

5. I don't want to be at a restaurant I've never been to! Okay, listen. With 44 restaurants on board to give 25-100% of April 25 sales to The Damien Center and the local fight against AIDS, we're betting you've been to and loved at least a couple of them. One of your fave Indy eateries is probably on our list. None, you say? Then you, my friend, are missing out on some delicious eats!

4. I'm a little nervous to be an Ambassador all by myself. This is an easy one. Get a buddy to sign up with you! Just let us know that you want to be placed together so you've got a partner for your shift(s).

3. I really don't want to drive all the way across town for this. Not to worry! Our Dining Out for Life restaurants stretch from Greenwood to Carmel and everywhere in between. Transportation an issue? Let us know if you need to be near a bus line or have other needs and we'll work with you to put together a solution.

2. What if I have concerns in the middle of my shift? What will I do? Our staff members are on call throughout the entire day of the event (and of course before and after!), so should you have any issues during your shift, we can help you figure out with a quick phone call or text. We'll even be stopping by restaurants throughout the day to check on Ambassadors and address anything that comes up.

1. I don't have time to volunteer right now! While Dining Out for Life does require some time from you, it's also pretty flexible. As long as you're free for your shift on April 25 and can attend one of these trainings, the rest of your volunteer time is determined by you. We'll give you a window of a couple weeks to stop by your restaurant with DOFL materials, and anytime from now until April 25, you can recruit friends and family to eat at your restaurant (or any DOFL restaurant!).

Have we quelled your concerns, eased your mind, destroyed your excuses? Then sign up, for goodness sakes! Easy online sign up can be found right here. We'll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Dining Out for Life Social Roundup

With Dining Out for Life less than two months away, we thought you might start wondering where on the interwebs all this Dine Out Fight AIDS info resides. Here to the rescue, our Dining Out for Life Social Roundup! Read on for your fully informative guide to tweeting, Facebooking, and Googling your way to Dining Out for Life.

Facebook
Of course we're on Facebook as The Damien Center (facebook.com/thedamiencenter), which is the central clearinghouse for all things Damien, including Dining Out. Here, you'll find updates on where to dine out on April 25, restaurant pics and links, maybe a contest or two as the event nears, sponsor updates (we ♥ our sponsors!), and so much more. RSVP to our Dining Out for Life Indianapolis Facebook event and share it with friends to spread the word and fill those restaurants. You also can find Dining Out for Life International at home on Facebook (facebook.com/DineOut4Life), which is where you'll find updates from 60 cities who participate in Dining Out each year. The Dining Out for Life International Facebook event is a cool place to go and see how many people are participating from around the country. 

Twitter
Find us on Twitter at @DamienCenter and look for the hashtag #DOFLIndy for Dining Out posts. Dining Out for Life International is also on Twitter at @DineOut4Life and posts updates from participating cities, our international spokespeople (@LoveMondoTrasho, @PamGrier, @ChopTedAllen, and @La_Daisy) and international sponsor @subaru_usa.

Websites
We've got our own Damien Center website with a dedicated Dining Out for Life area, but we'd also like to direct your attention to Dining Out for Life International's website, which is full of bells and whistles. Don't worry, you can find all the information about the event, restaurants, sponsors, volunteers, and more on our website, but Dining Out for Life International has some cool features that make it easy and fun to find participating restaurants near you and learn about the event. Plus, the International site works great on a smart phone, so when you're out and about on April 25, it'll be a piece of cake to find your next Dining Out hot spot. 

Pinterest
You didn't think we'd miss out an opportunity to post food pics, did you? Check us out the wildly popular Pinterest, paying close attention to our Dining Out for Life board. Pretty pictures. Delicious food. Fun clothes. That's all, folks!

So, are you going to help us spread the word? There are lots of ways to help, whether through one of these channels or something we haven't even thought of yet! Keep us on your calendar for April 25. Dine out, fight AIDS!
 

Calling all Ambassadors!

Are you ready to make one meal matter? During Dining Out for Life 2013, area restaurants will donate 25-100% of their day's sales to support The Damien Center and hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS right here in our community. 

With Dining Out for Life closing in on less than three months away, we're gearing up for the main event around here. Restaurants are signing up, sponsors are hopping on board, posters are being designed--the fundraising and marketing team is abuzz with anticipation over what's sure to be our best Dining Out yet.
 
Why do we say that? Well, last year, Indy's largest dining fundraiser (that's us, Dining Out for Life) raised $68,000, an incredible number that resulted from the commitment of 40+ restaurants, dozens of volunteers, and thousands of diners who went out on the town to fight AIDS. This year, our 19th Dining Out for Life locally, we hope to top that number. More restaurants, more volunteers, and more diners all add up to increased support for our clients and the services we offer. Ambassadors play a key role in helping to make Dining Out for Life a success and in raising money to support Damien Center clients and services.

So what's an Ambassador's commitment? You'll help us promote the event, build our relationship with your assigned restaurant, prepare the restaurant for success by delivering materials to them, and make the Dining Out for Life night especially meaningful for diners and the restaurant. In total, your commitment will consist of a four- to five-hour restaurant shift on April 25, one two-hour training, and time spent promoting your restaurant during the month of April.

Currently, our Ambassador Trainings will take place on the following dates, but if you'd like to volunteer and can't make one of these work, we'd like to work with you on additional sessions.

• Saturday, March 30, 2013; 10am-12pm
• Wednesday, April 3, 2013; 10am-12 pm
• Wednesday, April 3, 2013; 6pm-8pm
• Tuesday, April 9, 2013; 6pm-8 pm

This is your chance to get out in the community at your favorite restaurants and spread the word about an organization and a cause you care about! Don't worry, we'll make sure you're prepared. At your (required) Ambassador Training, you'll learn you how to promote your restaurants, receive talking points for the evening, and get all the promotional materials you'll need to get started. Ready to sign up? Just fill out our easy online form or download and return the paper version and we'll be in touch with event details.

Please help us make sure that no one faces AIDS alone by Dining Out for Life!

Dining Out for Life Volunteer Spotlight - Jeff K.

Our Dining Out for Life volunteer spotlight is Jeff K! Not only is he energetic and willing to donate time to our testing desk every other week, but he also went through a scheduled Ambassador training, he has been promoting Dining Out for Life at his workplace, and he went out to recruit restaurants for us!

Here's a look at Jeff:

• Have you ever held a volunteer position before?

I have volunteered as a Big Brother, and coached Babe Ruth and Bambino baseball. I also serve in the National Guard.

• What sparked your interest in volunteering with The Damien Center? How do you hope to serve the community and our clients here at The Damien Center?

I have always believed one should give back to your community. It strengthens the community as well as your citizenship. I hope to apply the "Hoosier Values" of hard work, honesty, and common sense to every endeavor assigned.

• What has been your most memorable moment while volunteering at The Damien Center?

It is whenever I get a look of satisfaction from a client when helping them to resolve an issue.

• What are some attributes that you feel you contribute to The Damien Center and your assigned position?

I try to have fun, remain positive, stay enthusiastic, and espouse the belief to all who will listen that with each new day comes a new beginning.

• What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I love sports, apple pie, working/playing outdoors, and listening to live music.

Make Your Reservations Now!

Dining Out for Life is next Thursday - just a week away! Have you made your reservations yet? April 28th is a busy night, so be sure you have a spot at your favorite Dining Out for Life restaurant by making a reservation.

Are the restaurant choices dizzying? We understand. That's why we've built this restaurant map - so you can choose the restaurant that is most convenient for you on April 28! Restaurants with green markers will donate 25%, while restaurants with red markers will donate 50%. The Damien Center is the sun located downtown.

Check out our map at http://www.damien.org/map !

Make your reservations now!

Dining Out for Life in a nutshell: eat out, fight AIDS. It's that simple.

Eat at one of our 45 participating restaurants, and 25% - 50% of your bill goes to The Damien Center. There's no code to mention, no special menus - just do what you would normally do!

Additionally, you can win cool prizes, like the Hoosier Park Package or the Celebrate Indy Package. These packages contain hotel stays, VIP tickets to Hoosier Park, IRT ticket vouchers, private happy hour parties, and more! All you need to do is fill out a form at one of our participating restaurants - no donation is required to enter. Just check the box, give us your name and some way to contact you, and you're entered into our drawing!

The following is a list of all our participating restaurants:

Premier Restaurants are restaurants who donate 50% of their day's sales to The Damien Center. Our Premier Restaurants include:

Legacy Restaurants are restaurants who have participated in DOFL for 5 or more years. Our Legacy Restaurants include:

Adobo Grill

Agio

Amici's
Arni's
Athens on 86th

Bazbeaux

Cafe Patachou

Downtown Olly's

English Ivy's

Greek Islands
Hellas

Iaria's Italian Restaurant

Marco's Restaurant and Lounge
Metro Nightclub & Restaurant
R bistro

Ralph's Great Divide

Santorini Greek Kitchen

Partner Restaurants are restaurants that donate 25% of their day's sales to The Damien Center. Our Partner Restaurantsinclude:

501 Eagle

Aesop's Tables
Agio
Amici's
Arni's - North
Arni's - South
Athens on 86th
Bazbeaux - Broad Ripple
Bazbeaux - Carmel
Bazbeaux - Downtown
Cafe Patachou - 49th and Penn
Cafe Patachou - River Crossing
Cafe Patachou - Carmel
Cafe Patachou - Downtown
Circle City Bar & Grill - Indy Mariott Downtown
Creation Cafe
English Ivy's
Euphoria
Greek Islands
Hellas
Henry's on East
Hoaglin To Go - Indiana History Center
Hoaglin To Go - Mass Ave
Hue Dine
Iaria's Italian Restaurant
Mama Carollas

Marco's Restaurant and Lounge
Mesh on Mass
Metro Nightclub & Restaurant
Puccini's Smiling Teeth - East 82nd
Puccini's Smiling Teeth - Fall Creek
R bistro
Ralph's Great Divide
Recess
Red Lion Grog House
Served
Square Rootz Deli

Tastings

The Legend Cafe

Ambassador Trainings

Dining Out for Life relies heavily on its Ambassadors - volunteers stationed at one of our many, wonderful restaurants! It is important that every Ambassador attend a training - even if you've been an Ambassador before. We have some new, exciting parts of this event, and we don't want our Ambassadors to miss out! If you would like to help out with the largest restaurant event in Indianapolis, come to a training on:

• Thursday, March 31 from 9-11
• Thursday, March 31 from 6-8
• Saturday, April 2 from 10-2
• Tuesday, April 5 from 6-8

Please RSVP by calling Naomi at 317-632-0123 x262 or by emailing her at nwilliams@damien.org.