AIDS BENEFIT

All right, it is that time of year again. Dining with Friends. Every year the AIDS Benefit Foundation of South Carolina has a fundraiser called "Dining With Friends" Growing up in Charleston, my mom used to attend and I would volunteer at the Finale Party. Basically persons in the community get together and throw a dinner party and ask for donations for the AIDS Benefit Foundation. There are formal invites involved and what not. Most people throw their party, this year on April 9, on the same night as the Dessert Finale and then bring their guests to the Finale. The Finale is a large soiree that has desserts and alcoholic beverages from local businesses. It is quite an affair. There were probably over a 1000 people at the Columbia one last year. Anyway, to help your Dining with Friends dinner party, a lot of hosts choose to do a themed evening.

Based on what I saw last year at the Dessert Finale, and I really saw some crazy themed people, I have decided to go with the Mardi Gras Theme. When I send out invites I will encourage people to come dressed for Mardi Gras. People stay in their outfits for the Dessert Finale and it is so much fun to see everyone dressed up. Some people do Luau themed, some do vegas themed, some are formally dressed and some are quite informally dressed.

It is a great event to support a wonderful cause. Most of the money goes to help persons living with AIDS and a small percentage goes to the local AIDS foundation.

We hosted a party last year. I invited about 12 people. This year I am invited closer to 50 people. Why not? We have the space. I love to host and plan parties and hopefully our party will raise a good amount of money for the Foundation. ( please give a certain amount based on the idea that they didnt have to go out and pay for a meal, they went to a party and it is for a good cause)

Anyway, I will be working on this a lot. I want a lot of participation this year.