Aids Benefit Foundation of South Carolina 2012 Dining with Friends Dessert Finale

Columbia, SC, March 16, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Dining with Friends Annual Dessert Finale will be held March 24th at 8 p.m. at the Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium located at 1127 George Rogers Boulevard in Columbia. The Zone is an 11,000-square foot banquet facility that provides guests with a fantastic view from the South End Zone of William-Brice stadium.

This year’s theme is “The Night Party!” and hosts from all over region have parties in their homes all month (and some the afternoon of the Finale) where they invite their friends in for all sorts of events (i.e., wine tastings, cookouts, and dinner parties.) to raise money and on March 24th everyone gathers for the Dessert Finale.

All party hosts and their guests are invited to this gala event featuring a variety of gourmet desserts from restaurants like Garibaldi’s, Drip Coffee, Café Strudel, Ally and Eloise, Cupcake, Albert’s, Tiffany’s, Generations, Gourmet Shop, Bone In BBQ, Capital City Club, Chocolate Nirvana, Nonnah’s just to name a few, an open bar, Starbucks© coffee, live entertainment from Dj. Gldfngr of columbiaredhot, and a silent auction where guests may bid on hand-painted platters by South Carolina artists, in addition to a wide range of other high-value items.

The Dining with Friends Dessert Finale is a ticketed event. You must be 21 in order to attend this event. Tickets Are Required and Each Ticket Admits One Person. Please have your ticket available for collection at the front door.

Tickets may be secured by making a **donation supporting their organization at a hosted party, directly to the Foundation with PayPal (via their website www.abfsc.orgor mail), or at the door the night of the Finale. Any donor who makes a minimum gift of $25 will receive a complimentary ticket to the Dessert Finale.

Over the years, Dining for Friends has become synonymous with community, friends, family, and celebration. One of the special things about Dining for Friends is the diversity of people who choose to take part. It is exciting to see folks who otherwise might not cross paths come together on this special night in support of a common cause.

Founded over twenty years ago, the AIDS Benefit Foundation of South Carolina is a non-profit ((501(c)(3)) organization whose sole purpose is to raise money and distribute grant monies to those helping others in dealing with issues that may arise from the disease HIV/AIDS.

· South Carolina ranks 9th in the nation in new HIV/AIDS cases
· The highest percentage of newly diagnosed HIV positive people in South Carolina are young adults ages 20-29
· 1 in 5 new HIV/AIDS cases reported in SC is among people age 25 and under
· Of those now living with HIV/AIDS, more than 50% are women, 81% of these women are African American or Hispanic

We raise money through fun and engaging events which involve the entire community. Our past events include Artists Against AIDS, Palmetto Holiday Showcase and currently Dining with Friends.

This isn’t just 20 years of “Dining with Friends," it's 20 years of caring for individuals living with HIV/AIDS in South Carolina. We cannot do this without your help and thanks for making Dining with Friends a fun way to dine and a fun way to give.

The ABFSC is a strictly volunteer-operated 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to raise and distribute money to those who serve and educate others dealing with the disease HIV/AIDS. ABFSC hosts a variety of events of all sizes throughout the year to meet its fundraising goals. Last year ABF granted over $50,000 in grants to eleven HIV/AIDS service organizations around the midlands. The foundation has no office costs or paid staff in an effort to distribute the maximum amount to its grant recipients.