Update: The original version of this story states that Dining Out For Life was taking place on April 23. It is taking place on April 24 at various locations.
Dining Out for Life — an annual event in which restaurants donate a portion of proceeds to HIV-centered organizations, including Philadelphia’s Action Wellness — is returning on April 24 for its 35th year of impact.
Mary Evelyn Torres, who worked for Action Wellness in the early 1990s then left for a time before returning in 2023 as executive director, said the fundraising tactic was innovative when the organization — known then as Action AIDS — first launched Dining Out for Life. Now it’s a national program.
“Thirty-five years ago, we were in a different place when it came to HIV,” she said, noting that at the time, organizations like Action AIDS were helping people through the process of dying as treatment options weren’t available. “I know Action AIDS didn’t want people to die alone or to face AIDS alone.”
An HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence — and the city has a roadmap for ending the epidemic. But that doesn’t mean organizations serving those who live with or are at risk for contracting HIV aren’t important anymore.
Ensuring people have access to preventative care and HIV treatment is the only way to actually stop the spread — but access to HIV-related care is often impacted by access to housing, transportation, income, food and other resources. Torres said that quality care is abundant in Philadelphia — but that HIV and AIDS disproportionately impact Black and Brown people in the city, underlining that it’s important to address social and economic determinants of risk and health.
“I think this work is just as important now,” she said.
Although Action Wellness has expanded its programs to care for broader populations, Dining Out for Life specifically funds initiatives that support people living with HIV. The fundraiser brings in “unrestricted funding,” Torres explained — making it a crucial resource during a time when federal funding is at risk.
The organization is comfortably funded through its typical major avenues through March 2026, she said, but the uncertainty that comes with President Donald Trump’s leadership makes her worry about her staff, the organization, and the people they serve.
For now, Action Wellness’s HIV-related federal funding hasn’t been revoked or directly threatened — but adjacent cuts could impact people living with HIV, including changes to Medicaid, as people could lose access to certain services or their insurance altogether.
“We need to step it up now because we are facing some real challenges in the possible cuts in our federal funding,” she said. “So these kinds of events, like Black-Tie GayBINGO! or Dining Out for Life, become even more important when we look at how we are going to make up those possible gaps in funding.”
Federal funding must be used in very specific ways, Torres explained, but unrestricted funding can be used more freely at the organization’s discretion. It often goes toward relief that isn’t offered elsewhere.
Torres said a healthy goal is to aim for $70,000 during the fundraiser. Some of the money that comes in from the Dining Out for Life initiative might help people access stable housing but could also help with more simple things — like buying a new mattress or a bike to get to work.
Torres said that Action Wellness is lucky to see many of its participants have returned yearly. She’s also thankful for emerging partnerships with restaurants who are joining in for the first time this year. A full list of participants can be found at the Dining Out for Life website, and there are more than 40 in the Philadelphia area to choose from.
This is the sixth year that Bobby Saritsoglou, chef and co-owner of Stina Pizzeria in South Philadelphia, has participated at his own restaurant. Before opening his own eatery, Saritsoglou — who was a chef elsewhere — noted that he’s also participated in every restaurant he’s worked in for the past 20 years.
“My wife and I feel very strongly about being a part of and making an impact for our community,” he said — noting that his wife, Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou (who co-owns the restaurant), also co-founded and is executive director of Philly AIDS Thrift.
“When we opened the restaurant, we wanted the restaurant to also be a platform and a fundraising space for community groups,” he explained. “A percentage of our funds every month go to different small organizations in the community.”
Stina Pizzeria is a small BYOB that offers lunch and dinner — cooking up Mediterranean fare via wood-burning oven. Neapolitan-style pizzas, octopus and kebabs are a regular part of the menus — which change seasonally — and specials often include whole fish, lamb or pastas. Saritsoglou said he’s used to accommodating dietary restrictions — including allergies, vegan meals and gluten-free diets.
Whether restaurant guests know it or not, a portion of sales for the whole day on April 24 will be given to Action Wellness — but Saritsoglou hopes people will intentionally come out to support the cause.
“I think it’s a fun way for people to get together and do something good while they’re having a fun dinner,” he said. “Why not raise money and awareness for the organization that’s taking care of a lot of people in Philadelphia?”
Dining Out for Life takes place at various restaurants across the country on April 24. To learn more about participating area venues, visit diningoutforlife.com/city/philadelphia-delaware-valley/.