For the first time, a Jackson Heights restaurant will be participating in the international Dining Out For Life initiative to raise money for those who have been affect by HIV/AIDS.
On Thursday, April 26, more than 3,000 restaurants, including six from New York City, will be donating a portion of their proceeds to The Alliance for Positive Change, a nonprofit that helps fund HIV/AIDS healthcare, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential services.
Among the participating restaurants includes Sac’s Place, located at 86-14A 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights. Sac’s Place will be donating 25 percent of their proceeds to The Alliance for Positive Change.
Owned by Anthony and Domenico Sacramone, Sac’s Place in Jackson Heights opened 28 years after they launched the original Sac’s Place restaurant in Astoria. The old-fashioned pizzeria serves traditional slices and heroes along with the finest Italian food, made to order and with love.
“It’s a win-win on so many levels,” said Sharen Duke, Alliance CEO and executive director. “Simply by dining out, New Yorkers can make a difference in someone’s life and, in fact, can help us to reach even more New Yorkers who are trying to feel better, live better and do better. We are extremely excited that the Dining Out For Life organization selected us – and New York – to participate in such an important event that is helping to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
Over the past 10 years, Dining Out For Life has raised around $38 million for the wellness of those affected by HIV/AIDS. Volunteer spokespeople for the event include Ted Allen, host of Food Network’s “Chopped,” actor Pam Grier (“Foxy Brown,” “Jackie Brown”), HIV-positive designer Mondo Guerra, winner of Lifetime’s “Project Runway All-Stars,” and chef Daisy Martinez from Food Network’s “Viva Daisy.”
“The wonderful thing about Dining Out for Life is you can do it three times a day, a different restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Mondo Guerra said. “You can sit down and have a meal with someone interesting, someone you love, maybe someone you haven’t seen in a while. And, it’s an opportunity to have a conversation. The fight against this disease begins with real, honest conversation.”
For more information and to see a full list of participating NYC restaurants, visit diningoutforlife.com/newyorkcity.
