One night of delicious food and great company can make a big difference to the many of thousands of affected children supported by Starfish.

The World AIDS Day Dinner of Hope drive encourages all South Africans to make a small difference through the simple enjoyment of spending quality time with good friends and food. Host the dinner at home, book a restaurant, spice up one's book club or get out into the open and have a picnic. Help make a difference and encourage one's guests to make a contribution to Starfish, one that suits their pockets as no pledge is too small.

Masterchef SA finalist Tiron Eloff and celebrity Edith Venter have pledged their support and will be hosting their own Dinner of Hope for Starfish on World AIDS Day. Starfish encourages all South Africans to follow their lead and gather in the name of hope. “I believe food is something that brings us together. Although our tastes and circumstances may differ, it is a common thread. Working with Starfish Greathearts Foundation’s Dinner of Hope campaign brings two of my passions together; food and helping those less fortunate. Hope only exists if others give it and I am fortunate enough to help - I’m hosting a Dinner of Hope to make a difference,” says Eloff.

Hosting a Dinner of Hope is as easy as registering one's support on their fundraising page here for easy payment and hassle free collection. Upon registration, all hosts will receive a host pack courtesy of Starfish which will guide one through the seamless process of making a difference. “Our belief is that every little bit helps and our aim is to make it as easy as possible for everyone to make a difference. Prospective hosts can log onto our website or our facebook page to find out more,” says Lorin Edgar of Starfish.

Starfish supports over 22 000 young children affected by HIV/AIDS across South Africa through its global network of offices in South Africa, the USA, Canada and the UK. Starfish's vision is that every child affected by HIV and poverty across southern Africa receives life, hope and opportunity. Starfish works towards this goal by building the capacity of local communities to provide quality care to children.

“To continue to change lives and make an impact, we need the help of all South Africans. We are truly excited to have celebrities such as Tiron and Edith on board, and we encourage everyone to take their lead and host their own Dinner of Hope this year,” concluded Edgar.

For more information, visit www.starfishcharity.org or email [email protected] Alternatively, visit the Facebook page or follow @starfishcharity on Twitter.