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Vivent Health customers are excited to see local restaurants helping fight HIV

MILWAUKEE — Good food and a good cause are two things that always bring people together. Vivent Health hopes to accomplish that on Thursday, Sept. 12 with its Dine Out For Life event.

Vivent has been fighting the HIV epidemic for decades and has partnered with 14 local restaurants. For one evening, a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to the Vivent Health Food Pantry.

Here are the 14 participating restaurants and bars:

  • Amilinda
  • Antigua
  • Bavette
  • Beerline Café
  • Brass monkey
  • Cuban Restaurants
  • Flour Girl & Flame
  • liquid
  • La Cage Club
  • My House and Cafe
  • Ono Kine Grindz
  • The Pasta Tree Restaurant and Wine Bar
  • POP
  • Four North

Amilinda, a Spanish and Portuguese-inspired dinner restaurant, participated last year and will do so again in 2024. Gregory León is the owner and executive chef.
“We all need food to survive,” said León. “It is a necessity of life.”

Gregory Leon

Brendan Jones/TMJ4

Gregory León is the owner and chef of Amilinda Restaurant. He is participating in the Dine Out For Life event, where restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to the Vivent Health Food Pantry.

At Vivent Health, we understand this need. Bill Bearder has been a patient at Vivent Health for over a decade, ever since he learned he was HIV positive.

“It was scary,” Bearder said. “I didn't know what to expect, how people would react.”

Bill says his healthcare experience changed after joining Vivent Health.

“Here you are a person,” Bearder said. “You are more than a customer, you are a friend, you are almost family.”

Bearded

Brendan Jones/TMJ4

Bill Bearder has been a Vivent Health customer for over a decade. He says Vivent changed his healthcare experience after his HIV diagnosis. He's excited to see the community come together at Vivent Health's Dine Out For Life.

Bill is one of hundreds of people who use the food bank each month, and he is just one of many who will benefit from Thursday's event.

But back in Amilinda, León is not only participating in the fundraiser. He tells TMJ4 that he will benefit from it too.

Watch: Vivent Health supports the fight against HIV.

Vivent Health customers are excited to see local restaurants helping fight HIV

“I'm going to tell you something I haven't told you before,” León told TMJ4 reporter Brendyn Jones. “I'm also HIV positive and I get most of my treatment at Vivent Health.”

León says he has always been reluctant to share his diagnosis because of the negative stigma attached to the disease, but he knows how much visibility and charity can help.

“Every dollar you donate helps me,” León said. “It allows me to come to work, cook for you and celebrate with you.”

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