Dining Out For Life Milwaukee, the annual initiative supporting individuals living with and affected by HIV, kicks off Thursday. On each of three days (Sept. 18-20), a different group of local bars, restaurants and other makers will donate a percentage of their sales (during a specific time slot) to Vivent Health, which provides HIV health care, food, social support and prevention programs to people impacted by HIV. All supporters need to do is order a meal (or an applicable equivalent) for dine-in or takeout.
Club Charlie’s will host an after-party event on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 2-6 p.m.
This year is a particularly critical one for HIV-related funding, in light of proposed and enacted budget cuts to global and domestic healthcare programs.
“Federal cuts will set the fight against HIV back decades,” said Vivent Health CEO Brandon Hill in a press release. “But in these scary times, we must take back our right to health and happiness in a world that often denies us those things. Dining Out For Life is a delicious way to reclaim communal power, resources and hope.”
Per the press release, “Vivent Health’s Wisconsin patients reach viral suppression rates of 95%, including 93% of Black and 97% of Latinx patients. That’s a stark contrast to the general U.S. viral suppression rates of only 65% of all patients, and just 60% of Black patients and 64% of Hispanic patients. Vivent Health’s patients have better outcomes because their model of care acknowledges and addresses the fact that 83% of HIV patients live at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, and 74% have no insurance or rely on Medicaid or Medicare.”
Here’s the daily event schedule, including local businesses and their participating time slots:
Thursday, Sept. 18
Antigua: 4-9:00 p.m.
Bavette La Boucherie: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Brass Monkey Pub: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Flour Girl and Flame @ Mapleton Barn: 4-9 p.m.
Pilot Project Brewing Milwaukee: 4-10 p.m.
Lakefront Brewery: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Odd Duck: 3 p.m.-midnight
Ono Kine Grindz: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.
Sanford Restaurant: 5:30-9:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19
Amilinda: 5-9 p.m.
Forage Kitchen MKE Public Market: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Forage Kitchen Pewaukee: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Forage Kitchen Whitefish Bay: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar: 5-9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Goodkind: 5-10 p.m.
Melt Chocolates: noon-7 p.m.
Midwest Sad: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mother’s: 5-10 p.m.
Purslane: 5-9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21
After Party at Club Charlie’s: 2-6 p.m.
