In 1986, St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach became home to the Comprehensive AIDS Resource and Education (C.A.R.E.) program to support not just the local HIV/AIDS-positive community, but throughout Los Angeles County as a whole.

Screen Shot 2014-08-07 at 4.16.34 PMFounded by emergency room social worker Jennifer Andrews, the program has earned the reputation as the quintessential standard in providing HIV specialty care and services, where—in stark contrast to initial HIV/AIDS programs—instead of an entire focus on the medical paradigm of the disease, the social, psychological, educational, and overall health of the patient was taken into consideration.

Come September 25, dozens of restaurants throughout Long Beach will be donating 20% of your bill to C.A.R.E. But before you carbo-load on pasta at La Parolaccia or dig into the lamb gyro at Kafe Neo, the organizers of the foodie tradition want you to meet your local restaurateurs.

On Sunday, August 17, C.A.R.E. to Dine will host a kickoff party at the Long Beach Museum of Art in an effort to provide the owners of restaurants “an introduction to the community of diners who will soon make serious lunch and dinner plans for the upcoming annual C.A.R.E. to Dine fundraiser.”

The C.A.R.E. to Dine Kickoff event will be from 4PM to 7PM at the Long Beach Museum of Art, located at 2300 East Ocean Blvd. Tickets are $25 per person and members of the CARE 21 Society will receive two complimentary tickets. For reservations, call 562-491-9225.

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