The popular foodie fundraiser is presented locally by Desert Care Network, with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce as community partners.
DAP Health invites residents and visitors across the Coachella Valley to participate in Dining Out For Life® Greater Palm Springs on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The event brings together restaurants, cafés, bars, and bakeries across the desert that pledge a portion of their day’s and/or night’s sales — not just profits — to support HIV services and other health care programs provided by DAP Health.
Community members can participate by dining at participating establishments for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, late-night bites, or just by going out for drinks or coffee. Between 33% and 100% of each bill will benefit DAP Health at no additional cost to the customer.
“Dining Out For Life shows how local businesses and community members can work together to support access to care,” says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. “By participating, diners help ensure people in our region have access to HIV prevention, treatment, and other essential health services.”
A local event with international reach
Dining Out For Life is an international fundraising event held in cities across the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1991, the initiative has raised more than $100 million for local HIV service organizations, with funds remaining in the communities where they are raised.
In recent years, Greater Palm Springs has consistently ranked among the top three fundraising cities in North America. In 2025, 65 local establishments participated to raise nearly $240,000 from more than 20,000 hungry, humanitarian diners.
How the event works
On April 23, participating restaurants will donate between 33% and 100% of their total sales for that day and/or night.
Palm Springs’ Townie Bagels has donated 110% of its sales during the event each year it has taken part. “From the day we opened in August 2015, the Greater Palm Springs community has supported us,” says Townie co-owner Bill Sanderson. “Participating in Dining Out For Life is one way we can give back to the community.”
With restaurants serving throughout the day and night, supporters are encouraged to visit participating establishments multiple times, and to invite friends, family members, and coworkers to join them.
Supporting HIV prevention and care
Funds raised through Dining Out For Life support DAP Health’s services for people living with or affected by HIV, as well as other safety-net health care programs the nonprofit community health center network provides.
These programs and services include:
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Free HIV testing
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HIV specialty care and treatment
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HIV prevention services, including PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
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Mental health services
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Dental care
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Housing assistance and other supportive services
DAP Health serves nearly 80,000 patients across Riverside and San Diego counties, including individuals who face barriers to care, such as lack of insurance, housing instability, and limited access to transportation.
Raising awareness about HIV prevention, too
Organizers say Dining Out For Life also helps increase awareness about HIV prevention and treatment.
Today, effective medications allow people living with HIV to achieve an undetectable viral load, making it impossible for them to transmit the virus sexually to others — a concept known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
Preventive medications such as PrEP can help prevent viral transmission in HIV-negative individuals even if exposure occurs.
“With the tools we have today — education, treatment, and prevention — new HIV infections are preventable,” Brinkman says. “Events like Dining Out For Life help raise awareness while supporting people who need care.”
How to participate
Community members can participate by dining (or ordering takeout) at any participating restaurant on April 23.
Supporters are encouraged to:
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Make reservations early
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Share information about the event with friends and family, and on social media
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Visit participating restaurants multiple times throughout the day and night
For more information, including a list of all participating establishments throughout the Coachella Valley (at press time) — or to learn more about how to become a participating location in 2026 — please visit daphealth.org/dofl.
Presenting Sponsor
Desert Care Network
Community Partners
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC)
Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
Media Sponsors
Connoisseur Media
The Desert Sun / LocaliQ
GED Magazine
KESQ News Channel 3
KGAY 103.1 / Sunny 106.5 Radio
NBC Palm Springs
Palm Springs Life Magazine
The Rage Magazine
The Standard Magazine
Participating Restaurants at Press Time
1501 Uptown Gastropub
Aspen Mills
Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar & Grill
Carousel Bakery and Cafe
Catalan Mediterranean Restaurant
Chicken Ranch
Cipolline Osteria
Clandestino
Cowboy Cantina
Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge
Elmer’s Restaurant
FARM
Fuzion Five
Gelato-A-Go-Go
Gelato Granucci
Hunters Palm Springs
Ice Cream Shop(pe)
Johannes
John Henry’s Cafe
Johnny Costa’s Ristorante
Juniper Table
Le Donne Cucina
Native Foods
On the Mark
One Eleven Bar
Palm Greens
The Purple Room
Rooster and the Pig
Sherman’s Deli & Bakery
Spencer’s Restaurant at the Mountain
Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill Palm Desert
Tac/Quila
The Front Porch
The Tropicale
Toucans Tiki Lounge
Townie Bagels
Willie’s Modern Fare
Workshop Kitchen & Bar
Zin American Bistro
About DAP Health
Since 1984, DAP Health has remained committed to protecting and expanding health care access. Guided by the voices and needs of the diverse communities it serves, the nonprofit’s nearly 1,000 team members provide medical, dental, and behavioral health care — plus social services and more — to almost 80,000 people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, orientations, and socioeconomic statuses at 23 fixed locations and six mobile units from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast.
