opportunities for gay Atlantans to have a
good time while they’re giving back, and
this year is no exception.
Bigger and better is a theme frequently
associated with the season, so it’s fitting that
one of the goals of this year’s Dining Out for
Life, which raises funds for Atlanta’s Open
Hand on April 23, is to grow beyond the
scope of past years.
“Our goal this year is to have over 200
restaurants,” says Michelle Duncan, manager
of special events for Open Hand, formerly
Project Open Hand. As part of the quest to
grow, she and her fellow organizers also
hope to top last year’s sum $220,000. “That’s a standing quote,” she says.
“Every year we’re hoping to do better than
we did last year. We still need about 100
restaurants to meet our goal for this year,
but so far we’re further along than we’ve
ever been at this point.”
The mechanics of the event are simple
but succesful. A portion of each participating
restaurant’s take on the day of Dining
Out for Life goes to Open Hand, allowing
patrons to support the organization by doing
something they’d do anyway.
“It’s a pretty easy sell,” Duncan says.
“People love this event and love the
organization.”
Duncan looks forward to the unveiling of
a rebranded Dining Out for Life, to go along
with the new look of Open Hand, which was
founded to provide meals for people with
HIV and now serves a wide range of clients.
“We updated the whole look of the event
… and when everything is new, it just
breathes new life into everything,” she says.
to a person’s heart is through the stomach,
the Human Rights Campaign is gearing up
for its 21st annual Atlanta dinner and silent
auction on May 3. Marketing chair
Christopher Vasquez says this year’s soiree
ups the ante on the fun factor with its glitzy
“Viva ‘08” Vegas theme.
“We’re kind of celebrating that this is
our year to win,” he says. “There’s an election
this year and it’s kind of a big year, so
it’s going to be a very fun dinner.”
Going along with the Vegas theme, the
event will feature showgirls, jazzy music,
and a casino event following dinner. “The
casino idea is something that I really think
people are going to enjoy,” Vasquez says.
“It’s not like you’re learning to play craps
while losing $500; it’s something that’s more
fun for people.”
Though the performers and keynote
speakers have yet to be locked down and
announced, Vasquez promises that attendees
will be pleasantly surprised by what
they encounter.
“We’re flying a couple people down to do
something pretty cool in the very opening of
the dinner,” teases Vasquez. “That will be
pretty exciting.”
Proceeds benefit the national HRC.
In addition, this year’s spring line-up
boasts a variety of other fun events to take
us into the heat of summer. The second
annual Mondo Homo Dirty South festival,
May 23-26, celebrates queer performances
in a variety of genres. PALS Atlanta’s K9
Cotillion in May and Affair with Flair and
5Friends4Ever’s White Party in June are
also highlights of the season.
