Victory Programs' 2014 Dinnerfest Party + Auction (where Boston's Foodies and Philanthropists Meet)

During my most recent trip to Boston I was impressed by a sense of unity and purpose that pervades the city from a micro to a macro level. Sure, it's always been there, as part of a missionary zeal from the city's Puritan DNA, but it's become even more salient as the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings fast approaches. More recently, the city was again brought together when a Back Bay fire killed two Boston firefighters - one a family man and another a "Big Brother" who volunteered regularly at Shriners Hospital for Children, a center for pediatric burn care. In fact, when my mother picked me up from Logan last week, we got to witness hordes of firemen from all over the world walking around South Boston, getting ready to attend one of the funerals. It was well worth the wait in traffic to witness this culture of honor.

Additionally, as a reporter in the city, I got to know some of the movers and shakers in the social justice realm, warriors in various battles, from GLBT rights to Food Security to Addiction/Recovery Services. One such fellow is Marc Davino, the Senior Director of Development and Communications at Victory Programs Incorpotated (VPI). This nonprofit organization has been helping people in transition (those getting sober, those looking for housing and those affected with HIV/AIDS) for nearly 40 years in some aspect or another. VPI has 19 programs in the metro area for folks that need emergency housing including a brand new one called Chamblet Family Home which will house pregnant and parenting women in dire straits. VPI also runs a local farm in Roxbury called ReVision Urban Farm, a place that grows their own food which they then sell to the public using the proceeds on job-training for urban youth and the homeless. ReVision Urban Farm also runs a CSA (Community-Supported-Agriculture or a system of fresh produce delivered to members' doors) and have even published their own cookbook. Victory Programs truly operates on all cylinders and even its name suggests that they do not take 'no' for an answer!



In a recent interview, Davino described the details of this year's Dinnerfest Party and Auction set to take place on Sunday, April 27th from 3 to 6 p.m. at Red Lantern Restaurant on 39 Stanhope Street near Boston's Back Bay Station. It's a fun event where Boston's foodie and philanthropy cultures come to bump elbows.

1.) How many tickets have been sold?

As of today, April 10, the guest list is just over 200 and we expect to have approximately 300 folks on hand for the event on Sunday, April 27.

2.) So how is this going to work exactly? I understand that patrons will get to place bids on deals for some of Boston's premier restaurants but what kind of food will be served at the actual event? Mostly sushi from Red Lantern? There will be a cash bar, yes? 

Correct. Guests will be bidding on dinners and gift certificates to as many as 100 area restaurants – the current list is at http://www.vpi.org/victory/news-events/dinnerfest-party-auction/.  We will also have 40 or so other prizes to bid on, e.g., wine packages, hotel stays, etc. 

The Red Lantern is providing free appetizers, hot and cold, to all of our guests, as well as providing the space at no cost.  There is no way we could do the event without this generous support.  It’s not only sushi but also some of their other tasty treats. And yes, cash bar though Bacardi/Grey Goose is our liquor sponsor so each guest will receive one free drink coupon.

3.) Is there a favorite restaurant of yours that is going to be highlighted? How has the restaurant scene been heating up in Beantown?

I admit to not being a big foodie so answering these two questions is challenging. I know that a bunch of new places have been opening in Boston. One of my personal favorites is Picco, though I’m off to Union Bar and Grille tonight!

4.) Would you be able to give my readers an example of a restaurant deal that was featured? How much did it end up fetching?

Last year we had 112 restaurant prizes auctioned off (some restaurants offered more than one). One example would be dinner for 6 at Grill 23 & Bar, which went for $750.  The value was $600 and the bidding started at $300 – this is typical – the starting bid being half the value.

5.) Is the new mayor, Marty Walsh, scheduled to attend?

Unfortunately not, though he is a big supporter of our work. 

6.) How big of a fundraising haul has DinnerFest been in the past for the VP as a whole? Or, rather, how much are you hoping to raise?

Our goal is to raise $75,000. 

7.) Victory Programs works on health and housing issues for those who are low-income and afflicted with HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse problems. It seems like it has quite a few pots on the fire. Do you think Victory Programs wants to continue to grow in reaching out to other service areas?

Good  question. At this point our focus is on housing. We just opened our newest program (so we’re now at 19!) called Chamblet Family Home. It currently houses 6 formerly homeless families – an announcement is scheduled for later today.

8.) I've been reading about Boston's increasing homeless population over the last several months and years in this Boston Globe article and it seems to be not just a local issue but more of a national epidemic. In San Francisco, there are seemingly even more homeless individuals and families because of the fair weather. What can Victory Programs do to address the problem? What can it NOT do? This article states that there are 7,255 individuals who are homeless in the city. Do you have any rough estimates (or even better, precise numbers) of people that Victory Programs is serving?

We continue to look for opportunities to house those most in need, e.g., Chamblet Family Home.  Overall, we serve approximately 2,600 men, women and children each year. And on any one night, we have 235 individuals and 48 families sleeping safely in recovery, shelter, transitional, and permanent housing operated by Victory Programs.

9.) Are there any secrets to good fundraising? Who has stood out as name-worthy? 

It’s all about relationships. We are fortunate to have a President/CEO who has been with us nearly 40 years, starting out as a volunteer in our first program, Victory House. Jonathan Scott has developed significant relationships with individual donors, public funders, elected officials and so many others over the years, and has been instrumental in overseeing our growth from one program, starting in 1975, to 19 today!

To purchase tickets for 2014 Dinnerfest Party + Auction, follow this link. Tickets start at $60 for an individual if purchased before April 26th.

Dinnerfest Party + Auction will be held on Sunday, April 27th
3 to 6 p.m.
at Red Lantern Restaurant,
39 Stanhope Street
Boston, MA 02116