Appetites are building for Thursday, April 28, when Dining Out For Life (DOFL) happens all day at restaurants, bars, and bakeries across greater Palm Springs. For 17 years, this event has helped fund DAP Health as it works to reduce HIV stigma and provide access to HIV care, prevention, and testing. Participating businesses donate all or part of their gross sales from the day. All funds raised stay in Greater Palm Springs to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.
More information about DOFL, participating establishments, volunteering, and sponsoring can be found at daphealth.org/DOFL/
DAP Health joined forces with community partners to help spread the word that eating in greater Palm Springs is more popular than ever. This year’s DOFL is the perfect way to reconnect with old favorites or choose among a variety of top-rated eateries that have recently opened.
This year’s promotional videos feature local personality Kelly McQueen, aka DJ Mod Girl, capturing the excitement and satisfaction of eating all three meals of the day— breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a cocktail or two—at DOFL participating restaurants and bars on Thursday. You can view them on the DAP Health Youtube Channel
The Palms Springs Show with Jacob Cunningham created a multipart series that explores eateries in the Palm Springs area, just in time to plan for the big day. You can tune in here: youtube.com/c/PalmSpringsShow
Growing Need for HIV Care and Prevention
DAP Health continues growing to meet the demand for access to care created by barriers to health in the Coachella Valley. Efforts are underway to increase its capacity from serving 10,000 patients annually to 25,000 patients.
In 2021, fear of COVID caused many people to put health on hold by staying home. DAP Health created new ways of keeping them connected to HIV testing and care with:
- 8,182 administered HIV tests at our campus and in our mobile clinic
- 566 HIV self-test kits mailed to homes
- 53 patients were welcomed into HIV care immediately after testing positive
- 187 people resuming antiretroviral treatment (ART) after lapses
- 351 patients accessing PrEP for the first time
- 22,500 condoms made available through our Condom Club
DAP Health provides a sense of community for many people living with HIV, a health condition requiring ongoing medical management and commonly stigmatized by society and many in the health care profession.
“At DAP Health, you don’t wonder if you belong,” says David Brinkman, DAP Health CEO. “You just feel it.”
Isolation is dangerous for people living with HIV, but DAP Health offers opportunities to choose something different than being alone.
Michael O’Neil compliments being a DAP Health patient with volunteering on its Client Advisory Board, and helping other patients get the most they can out of DAP Health.
“DAP has worked on my teeth, my body, my mind,” Michael says. “Now, DAP Health’s given me goals and some sense of self again.”
Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs is sponsored by Subaru, Bank of America, Steve Tobin & Johnny Krupa/Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, Road Runner Print & Ship, The Desert Sun, and NBC Palm Springs
Pride in Community
The last time restaurants and community members came together in support of Dining Out For Life was in 2019. The top three fundraising restaurants in North America were all based in Palm Springs. 83 local restaurants raised $307,000 during Dining Out for Life 2019. Greater Palm Springs is the smallest participating market but ranked second in overall fundraising among the 50 participating cities across the United States – raising more funds than cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, and Phoenix. This is a powerful story about generous restaurants and our local community support. The event generates community awareness of HIV/AIDS and supports DAP Health’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of those living with HIV/AIDS.
About Growth at DAP Health
The Vision Forward strategy details the organization’s expansion of its physical footprint through the construction of additional primary care, mental health, addiction, and dentistry clinics — not to mention additional affordable housing units. The goal – to strengthen DAP Health’s safety net for those who lack access to the care they deserve. Find out more at daphealth.org/visionforward
About Dining Out For Life
Each year, more than 50 local HIV service organizations partner with 2,400+ participating restaurants, 4,100+ volunteers, and 300,000+ diners to raise over $4.5 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. Best part? All funds raised through a city’s Dining Out For Life event stay in that city to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Launched in 1991, Dining Out For Life® is a trademarked North American fundraiser held annually in more than 50 cities across the United States and Canada; Dining Out for Life raised more than $4 million for AIDS Service Organizations in past years. 2022 marks DAP Health’s 17th year participating in the event.
About DAP Health
DAP Health is an advocacy-based health center in Palm Springs, CA serving over 10,000 patients, offering medical and mental health care, STI testing and treatment, dentistry, pharmacy, and lab services. A variety of wraparound services enable patients to experience optimal health, including social services, support groups, alternative therapies, and other wellness services. Excellent HIV care is provided by the largest team of specialized clinicians in the area. Click here to read more about our commitment to health equity.
DAP Health opened one of California’s first COVID clinics and hotlines to offer screening, testing, and treatment. DAP Health is also working to address social determinants of health that are causing negative health outcomes during this pandemic, like food and housing insecurity, joblessness, isolation, and access to ongoing health care.
DAP Health’s sexual health clinic offers STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP Health in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that DAP Health exceeds industry standards in terms of financial health, accountability, and transparency.
Visit www.daphealth.org to learn more.
