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Wachovia Dining Out For Life on Thursday, April 30

04/09/2009

More Than 140 Valley Restaurants and Sponsors Join 2009 Wachovia Dining Out For Life on Thurs., April 30 Supporting HIV/AIDS Services

PHOENIX (April 13) - On Thurs., April 30, more than 140 Valley restaurants will help raise $200,000 for local HIV and AIDS services and programs during the 2009 Wachovia Dining Out For Life. This one-day event encourages restaurants and other businesses statewide to donate a portion of their proceeds to benefit programs and services provided by Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS including clinical trials, and prevention and wellness programs for teens, men and women.

Also, more than a dozen Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona restaurants also will be participating in Dining Out For Life, benefitting Northland Cares, an AIDS service organization serving Northern Arizona.

"With the help of the 2008 Dining Out for Life event, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS saved Arizona taxpayers an estimated $16 million in avoided hospital stays," said Carol Poore, president and CEO of Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. "Through our community prevention and education initiatives, we reach out to more than 25,000 individuals annually who are at-risk for obtaining and transmitting HIV and AIDS. Dining Out for Life is a significant part of our fundraising effort and helps us to provide this level of outreach to the community. We are grateful to be involved."

Across the United States, more than 3,500 restaurants in 55 cities will donate a generous percent of daily proceeds to an AIDS service provider. Money raised in each city stays within that city for local programs. Last year, Phoenix ranked seventh in the U.S. for total dollars raised.

With the help of this and other fundraising efforts, Southwest Center has provided 110 participants with new, life-saving medications during its 15-year clinical trial program. Southwest Center's clinical trials research program has helped bring 26 of the 28 available HIV/AIDS drugs to the global market.

Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS is Arizona's oldest and largest nonprofit AIDS service organization providing a combination of prevention, research and wellness support to serve 70 percent of Arizona's nearly 13,000 residents infected with HIV/AIDS who live in the metro-Phoenix area. As the Valley continues to grow, the cases of HIV/AIDS have continued to grow as well; in 2008, Southwest Center's HIV testing program grew by 26.9 percent over the prior year.

"Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS is the only agency in the nation to combine prevention and education programs, health and wellness services, and research and clinical trials in a single location," added Poore. "Dining Out for Life is a significant component of educating the community and we hope to be involved with this fantastic event for many years to come."

Participating restaurants and businesses are listed on Southwest Center's web site, www.swhiv.org as well as on the national Dining Out For Life web site, www.diningoutforlife.com. For more information or to get involved, call Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS at (602) 307-5330, Ext. 2219 or visit www.swhiv.org.

Wachovia Dining Out for Life sponsors include:

Platinum Knife Sponsors - Clear Channel, ECHO Magazine, Harkins Theatres, ionArizona, 'N Touch News Magazine, Arizona Pride Guide, Hensley; Cold Stone Creamery, and Arizona Foothills Magazine.

Silver Spoon Sponsors - Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Association, Ticoz, FEZ Restaurant & Bar, Switch, Jamba Juice, Fox Restaurant Concepts, Moving Active Adz, MEGA 104.3 and 99.3, THE BEAT 92.7 and 99.3, Molina Fine Jewelers, Los Olivos Hand Car Wash.

Bronze Plate Sponsors - International Printing Company, Community Tire, Sway Events, Phoenix Pride, Local First Arizona, The State Press - Arizona State University, Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau, Southwest Airlines, and bluemedia.

About Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS

Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS is the only agency in the nation to combine prevention and education programs, health and wellness services, and research and clinical trials in a single location.

About Dining Out For Life International

Dining Out For Life^a is an international fundraising event involving the generous participation of volunteers, corporate sponsors and restaurants. In exchange for their financial support, restaurants are promoted in an effort to increase customer traffic. In 1991, Dining Out For Life was created by an ActionAIDS volunteer in Philadelphia. Dining Out For Life is now held in 55 cities throughout North America. For more information see www.diningoutforlife.com.

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