Dining With Friends

Dining with Friends isn’t just a spring fling anymore! More hosts are tying their annual parties and events to AID Upstate to help support assistance programs and prevention services throughout the year. During two Halloween 2010 parties, ghosts, goblins, pirates and French maids donated over $7,500. In March, a 50th birthday party brought in $3,770.

If you’re hosting an event or celebrating a special occasion, consider offering your guests the option to make a donation to AID Upstate instead of bringing a birthday present or host gift. It’s another option for your guests – not an admission fee.

Some of your guests will give; some may prefer to give to an organization of their own choosing, and some will opt not to give. It is unlikely that someone won’t attend your party because you gave them the opportunity to support a worthwhile cause. Each time you include this option in your invitation, you increase awareness of AID Upstate and HIV/AIDS among everyone you invite. When your guests complete a donation card or write a check, their names are added to our list of supporters. They’ll receive a “Thank You” letter from AID Upstate and any other correspondence.

Dining with Friends has been the vehicle of community support for HIV-related assistance and prevention services here in the Upstate for 15 years. You have been extremely generous and gracious. Your support has made it possible to meet the increasing needs of a growing clientele. You have helped provide free testing services that have saved lives and prevented men, women, boys and girls from being infected with HIV. That is quite an impact.

Your support has fed families, paid rent, purchased medicines, transported patients and paid power and water bills. Your support has purchased baby strollers and cribs for infants born to HIV-positive mothers, and baby dolls and toy trucks at Christmas for the children of families affected by HIV.

The 2011 hosts and their guests raised over $82,000.

If you’re still not sure or you have questions, please contact me at greg.campbell@aidupstate.org or 864-250-0607 and let’s talk. It is easy and fun. Please do not wait for someone else to host a party. This year, that someone else is you.