It’s the perfect fundraiser for a great cause.

Part 1 – Get together with your friends and have a party. It can be with as few or as many people as you would like. It can be in a back yard, at a dining room table or even at a favorite restaurant. Have some good food, fellowship and fun. At the end of the event, everyone makes a donation.

Part 2 – Everyone meets up again. This time it’s with hundreds of others who also hosted or went to a party and made a donation. You get live music, decadent food and a silent auction full of art like no other.

Like I said…the perfect fundraiser! As you might have guessed by now, I’m talking about Dining with Friends, the AIDS Action Coalition fundraiser now heading into its 14^th year. And those donations everyone made? AAC’s goal for Dining with Friends is $100,000. That’s supplemental income that AAC depends on to fulfill their mission in the community. More about that later.

Take a Journey

Dining with Friends is well underway with individual events already taking place. As AAC board member Eric Artrip told me, there can be anywhere from 30 – 50 individual parties of “all shapes and sizes.” Artrip himself has hosted eight parties over the years, but this year will be having a small, formal event with the party moving directly to the Dessert Reception later that evening. What I call Parts 1 & 2, Artrip calls a “unique feature” of Dining with Friends.

“Start out with intimate dinners and culminate with the big party.”
-Eric Artrip, AAC  Board of Directors

That big party is the Dessert Reception, which is this Saturday night at the Jackson Center starting at 7:00 p.m. The theme is “Take a Journey” and you’ll feel that all night with sounds from the Tropical Breeze Band, decadent desserts, cocktails and the silent auction. Anywhere from 500 – 700 people will be in attendance, marking the end of their Dining with Friends “journey.” Artrip, like everyone else I’ve spoken to about the Dessert Reception, tells me it’s a really fun event!

THE Auction

I visited with the staff of AAC last week, and their office is filled with gorgeous and unique works of art that will be a part of this year’s silent auction. With over 100 pieces of art from regional artists, it is the big draw of the Dessert Reception.

Matt Liles, AAC development director, gave me a sneak peek at some of the art that will be on the block:

• Ol Ruby by Local Artist Lesa DeArman 

• One Fine Day by Local Artist Susan Clanton

• “Tomato on small plate” by Local Artist Conor O’Brien

With a theme like Take a Journey, expect some awesome vacation getaways. Here are a few of them:

• December Getaway to a private studio apartment for 8 Days in Palm Beach, FL

• Weekend escape to private Charleston, SC apartment

• One week in a private condo in Destin, FL

• Weekend getaway to a private cabin in Dahlonega, GA

• Luxury weekend to Buckhead – Atlanta, GA – sponsored by Bentley Automotive, includes the use of a Cadillac

Matt also shared some other “hot items” that will be up for grabs:

• Custom Vest from Sugar Ray Leonard, worn on “Dancing With The Stars”

• “Book of Mormon” Broadway Production Poster – Signed by Cast

• Various gift baskets from local merchants

• Gift cards galore to local restaurants

• Monaco Pictures Annual Movie pass for 2

 

Why It’s ALL Important

The mission of the AIDS Action Coalition is to STOP the spread of HIV and AIDS in the 12 counties of North Alabama and CARE for people and families living with the disease. Mary Elizabeth Marr, executive director of AAC, helped me understand all that this organization does for North Alabama.

There are currently 560 active patients who receive total health care and supportive services from AAC. Supportive services include things like medication, transportation, translators and mental health care. This is just a small bit of what this organization does, including running the Davis Clinic, which provides medical services for patients with HIV. The organization also works to raise awareness and focus on education in the community. Marr put it best when she said that if the AAC “sees a need, they will try and fulfill that need.”

AIDS Action Coalition is dependent on the support of the community to supplement its funding. All of those individual contributions really add up. Board member Eric Artrip said,

“The nice thing about it is you don’t have one or two donors writing big checks. Instead you have hundreds of people writing smaller checks to help their community.”

Go to a Party 

“The joy of Dining with Friends is helping people with HIV and AIDS and involving the entire community in the fight.”
– Mary Elizabeth Marr, Executive Director of AAC

There is still time to go to a party this week before the Dessert Reception! The Eaves Restaurant is hosting an event Thursday evening. RSVP today to attend and take your own Dining with Friends journey. Click here for all the details.

Dessert Reception Details 

Date: May 19, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m
Time: 7:00pm
Location: The Jackson Center. Click here for directions
Cost:  $50
Buy Your Tickets: Online, but a limited number will be available at the door.