Dining Out for Life: Thank You & Envelope Totals

Thank you to EVERYONE who made Dining Out for Life a success. Your support will make a direct impact in the lives of our neighbors in need and will help to deliver more than 1.2 million meals this year. Thank you, Thank you!

We are posting photos on Facebook as they come in and will post more next week. Please share yours!

BIG THANKS to the 120+ volunteers who donated their time to hang out in our restaurants thanking diners and raising funds.

If there was not a volunteer in your restaurant, or you didn't make a donation, you still can. DONATE TODAY!

As we count the funds raised through envelope contributions, we'll be posting the totals here. So, keep checking back to see how the restaurant you volunteered at, or dined at, did.

18th & U Duplex Diner - $2,065
Amici Miei - $435
Annie's Paramount Steak House - $4,985
Arucola Osteria - $880
Asia Nine Bar & Lounge - $350
Banana Cafe & Piano Bar - $607
Black's Bar & Kitchen - $142
BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant - $260
Busboys & Poets at 5th & K - $105.50
Busboys & Poets 14th Street - $185
Busboys & Poets in Hyattsville - $1,386
Busboys & Poets in Shirlington - $2,219
Cafe Berlin for Lunch - $70
Cafe Berlin for Dinner - $1,383
Cafe Saint-Ex - $163
Cashion's Eat Place - $50.00
Chadwick's in Old Town - $25
Clare & Don's Beach Shack - $1,102.50
Commissary - $304
Cubano's - $795
Darlington House for Lunch - $10
Darlington House - $75
Delhi Club for Lunch - $1,010
Don Lobos - $63
Dupont Italian Kitchen - $1,330
Eatonville - $447
Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant - $1,810
Freddy's Lobster & Clams - $170
Founding Farmers - $950
Grillfish - $347.60
Guapo's in Bethesda - $600
Guapo's in Shirlington - $613
Hank's Oyster Bar & Lounge - $152
Hank's Oyster Bar on the Hill - $220
Il Pizzico - $363
JoJo's Restaurant & Bar - $10
La Cote D'or Cafe - $983
La Forchette - $1,616
La Tomate - $570
Las Placitas - $25
Lauriol Plaza - $1,397
Le Diplomate - $2,592
Le Grenier - $1,790
Level One - $389
Little Fountain Cafe - $789
Logan Tavern for Lunch - $329
Logan Tavern for Dinner - $1,344
M Street Bar & Grill for Lunch - $728
Mark's Kitchen for Lunch - $155
Mark's Kitchen for Dinner - $407.67
Mintwood Place - $1,507
Mosaic Cafe - $958
Mourayo - $500
Nage - $830
Napoleon Bistro - $210
Neyla - $230
Peacock Cafe - $1,369
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace - $124
Pesce - $215
Perry's - $515
Pete's New Haven Style Apizza in Silver Spring - $1,564
Pete's New Haven Style Apizza in Clarendon - $451
Poste Moderne Brasserie - $75
Posto - $4,088
Republic - $299
Sala Thai in Bethesda for Lunch - $120
Sala Thai in Petworth - $192
Shaw's Tavern - $776
Sixth Engine - $40
Thally - $20
Thiphoon at the Pentagon - $300
The Heights for Lunch - $120
The Heights for Dinner - $369
The Old Siam - $530
The Pig - $960.70
Tosca - $5,785
Trattoria Alberto - $907
Trattoria Sorrento - $1,453
Veranda - $635

Dine Out TODAY! Your Meal Will Deliver Many Meals

It's simple...when you DINE OUT FOR LIFE TODAY for lunch and/or dinner at one of our 100 participating restaurants, 25-100% of your bill will be donated to Food & Friends to provide nutritious meals to those living with life-challenging illnesses.

Here is a note we recently received from the daughter of a client:

"My mother is bed bound with a brain tumor and is unable to care for herself...The food is so tasty, nutritious and varied that I’ve been amazed. Because of you, my mom’s nutritional status remains high. Words aren’t adequate to express my appreciation."

Your support helps us be there for our clients when they need us most. Dine out at any of the participating restaurants.

Queen Force One Schedule for Dining Out for Life®

Drum roll please....the Queen Force One Dining Out For Life schedule is complete. #DineOutDC. Make your reservations today for 4/24 at www.foodandfriends.org/dol!

6:00 PM:

Tosca (1112 F St NW)

6:30 PM:

Perry’s Restaurant (1811 Columbia Rd NW)

Mintwood Place (1813 Columbia Rd NW)

7:00 PM:

Duplex Diner (2004 18th St NW)

L’Enfant Café (2000 18th St NW)

7:30 PM:

Café Saint Ex (1847 14th St NW)

Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St NW)

8:00 PM:

La Tomate (1701 Connecticut Ave NW)

Bistro Du Coin (1738 Connecticut Ave NW)

8:30 PM:

Level One (1639 R St NW)

Dupont Italian Kitchen (1637 17th St NW)

9:00 PM:

Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse (1609 17th St NW)

Hank’s Oyster Bar DC (1624 Q St NW)

9:30 PM:

Commissary (1443 P St NW)

Logan Tavern (1423 P St NW) 

10:00 PM:

Ristorante Posto (1515 14th St NW)

Pearl Dive Oyster Bar (1612 14th St NW)

What Are People Saying About #DineOutDC?

Dine Out on April 24th and Make a Difference

100 DC-Area Restaurants Donating a Significant Portion of Sales to Support Children and Adults Facing HIV/AIDS and Cancer

On Thursday, April 24th, diners across the Washington metro region will join hundreds of thousands of others from across North America to stand up against HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses by sitting down at restaurants participating in this year’s Dining Out for Life® fundraiser. More than 100 area restaurants have pledged to contribute 25% to 100% of that day’s proceeds to benefit Food & Friends’ clients living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout the National Capital Region.

When:  Thursday, April 24th

Where: Food & Friends is thrilled to have 100 restaurants on board, including those that are donating their entire evening’s proceeds to Food & Friends – Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant, Annie’s Paramount Steak House, and Ristorante Tosca. A complete list of participating restaurants can be found at www.foodandfriends.org/dol. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.com or through the restaurants directly.

More Info: Once again this year, Queen Force One, a shuttle bus of Drag Queens, will be visiting different restaurants throughout the evening. Last year, more than 25,000 diners, restaurants and volunteers participated in Dining Out for Life®, raising more than $225,000 to support Food & Friends’ mission.

ABOUT FOOD & FRIENDS

Food & Friends is the only organization in the Washington Metropolitan area providing home-delivered meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses free of charge. Since 1988, Food & Friends has provided more than 17 million life-sustaining meals to more than 25,000 individuals. Our service area encompasses 5,346 square miles including the District of Columbia and 14 counties in Maryland and Virginia. For more information about Food & Friends, please visit www.foodandfriends.org or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@foodandfriends), or Instagram (@foodandfriendsdc).

Donors Give $523,500 to Increase our Capacity

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of our Delivering Hope Campaign. This campaign, launched in the summer of 2013, raised a total of $523,500 for the following capital improvements: adding and replacing aging kitchen equipment, purchasing an emergency generator and redesigning our client service database. This funding strengthens Food & Friends’ future by providing the critical tools needed to maintain efficient, effective and increased services for decades to come.

Support for the Delivering Hope Campaign was made by key individuals, corporations, foundations and public funders. We are fortunate to have such a strong and diverse source of support, and would like to thank the following donors for their generous contributions.

The Long Game: Playing Golf and Battling Cancer Drives Donor’s Life

For Food & Friends Board Member Tony Russo, golf has a funny way of imitating real life. At a young age, he learned that sometimes you have bad shots but you have to play the ball no matter where it lands.

Board Member Tony Russo supports Food & Friends because we provide
the same amount of support his family did when he had cancer.

The son of a United States congressman, Tony frequently played golf with his father, Congressman Marty Russo, and his fathers’ friends (including Vice President Joe Biden) as a way to spend quality time together.

“My ultimate dream was to be a pro golfer,” says Tony. “I grew up always wanting to do good things and to always get better.”

Tony’s love of golf and his determined, positive attitude have steered him throughout his life. This drive has gotten him through some challenging times in his life, but none more so than facing cancer.

After attending the University of Florida on a full-ride golf scholarship and playing professional golf in Arizona, Tony enrolled in law school at DePaul University in Chicago. Unfortunately in his third year, childhood leukemia temporarily derailed his plans.

"Until that point, and even today, I’ve never had a serious operation or even a broken bone,” says Tony. “I wasn’t well enough to play golf and even the school tried to prevent me from registering for classes. I can remember taking a test and my hands were shaking so bad from the rough treatment.”

With the support of his family and close friends, Tony not only won his battle with cancer but graduated from law school.

“I couldn’t have done it without my support system. Some days, I didn’t think I was going to make it through this, but I went day by day focusing on what was right in front of me.”

Vice President Joe Biden was one of many who helped
Tony through his battle with cancer.

Tony is extremely grateful for having been given a second chance at life, and feels it is important to pay it forward. He started supporting Food & Friends because we provide the same amount of support and care as his family did when he was sick. Not only does Tony personally support Food & Friends as a donor and member of the Board of Directors, but he is our champion in acquiring support from his company, T-Mobile.

Food & Friends clients not only need critical nutrition, but the hope and belief that people in the community care for them. Tony’s support demonstrates to our clients that they are not alone.

“I have an idea of what Food & Friends’ clients are going through. Thankfully, we [Food & Friends] are there to deliver meals and the support network that many of them are missing.”

Tony encourages everyone that is not currently giving to take the first step no matter how big or small it may be.

“Whether as an individual or as a company, giving back to the community is a win-win for everyone involved.”

Because just like in the game of golf, winning is impossible if you never start the game.

National Nutrition Month®: Week 4 Healthy Living Tips

Congratulations, you made it to the LAST WEEK of National Nutrition Month®.

We hope you've found these tips and ideas helpful and that you've been able to create healthy habits that will not only last for the rest of the month but for years to come.

MARCH 24TH

Check out the FULL version of the
31 Days of Healthy Living calendar

Say No to Artificial Trans Fats

Trans fats are also known as partially hydrogenated oils. They are made by mixing unsaturated fats with hydrogen gas at a high heat to make them resemble saturated fats. In the long term, consumption of trans fats raises the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, depression and many more diseases.

MARCH 25TH
Go Fiber!

Fiber can help keep us full, and studies show that people who eat high fiber diets weigh less than those who do not. Other health benefits of fiber include reducing bad cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, and keeping your digestive system healthy.

MARCH 26TH
Eat Something Blue

A diet rich in blue and purple foods can have anti-aging benefits, help prevent urinary tract problems, and reduce your risk of cancer. Blackberries, blueberries, eggplants, and plums are a few good options you should throw into your cart next time you’re at the store!

MARCH 27TH
Reuse, Reuse, Reuse

Reusable grocery totes are a great way to be earth friendly, but these bags can harbor bacteria that can lead to food poisoning. Wash reusable bags frequently and keep meat, poultry, and fish in separate totes away from produce and ready to eat foods.

MARCH 28TH
Eat Right Before Exercise

Eating proper foods before working out can give you the energy you need so you don’t feel burned out. Eat a meal 3-4 hours beforehand that is high in carbohydrates and contains some protein, fat, and fiber.

MARCH 29TH
Rethink Your Drinks

Added sugars in soft drinks, energy drinks, and sport drinks can contribute to weight gain by making us consume excess calories throughout the day. Make healthier drink choices by switching to water or low-fat milk, drinking 100% juice, or sipping on flavored seltzer water.

MARCH 30TH
Slow Down

It takes about 20 minutes for our bodies to realize we are full. Instead of eating until you are full, eat until you are satisfied. This will help to prevent overeating and reduce caloric intake. 

MARCH 31ST
Give Yourself a Pat on the Back

This month has been full of new ideas and challenges to help you adopt a healthy lifestyle. Keep up the great work!

Volunteers Needed for Dining Out for Life®

Love to dine out? Love to throw dinner parties? You can do both while making an impact in the lives of our neighbors battling HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. It's easy - host a restaurant for Dining Out for Life®.

As a Restaurant Host, you'll be assigned to one of our restaurants generously donating a portion of its proceeds to Food & Friends. As a host we need you to:

FILL YOUR RESTAURANT

Invite your friends, family and colleagues to dine out at your restaurant. We'll provide you with a webpage, graphics and more to help promote the event.

GREET DINERS & ASK FOR DONATIONS

Thank diners and encourage them to make a gift to Food & Friends. We will provide you with training and the materials needed to be successful. All you have to do is sign up!

SIGN UP TODAY

Eating Right for Older Adults

With the help of our friends at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, we've been sharing healthy living tips in honor of National Nutrition Month®. Check out a resource from their website (www.eatright.org) that outlines some important nutrition tips for older adults.

Since the average age of Food & Friends' clients is 50 years old, these tips are something that our registered dietitians consider when they develop specialized meal plans, conduct nutrition assessments and teach cooking classes.

Healthy Eating for Older Adults

 

Eating a variety of foods from all food groups can help you get the nutrients your body needs as you age. A healthy eating plan emphasizes fruit, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free dairy; includes lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.

Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

• Eat fruits and vegetables. They can be fresh, frozen or canned. Eat more dark green vegetables like leafy greens or broccoli, and orange vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes.
• Vary your protein choices with more fish, beans and peas.
• Eat at least three ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice or pasta every day.
• Have three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy (milk, yogurt or cheese) that are fortified with vitamin D to help keep your bones healthy.
• Make the fats you eat healthy ones (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats). Switch from solid fats to oils when preparing food.

Add Physical Activity

Balancing physical activity and a healthful diet is your best recipe for health and fitness. Set a goal to be physically active at least 30 minutes every day. You can break up your physical activity into 10-minute sessions throughout the day.

If you are currently inactive, start with a few minutes of activity, such as walking, and gradually increase this time as you become stronger. Check with your healthcare provider before beginning a new physical activity program.

(Source: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6838)