Night of A Thousand Dinners Frequently Asked Questions

What is Night of A Thousand Dinners?

Night of A Thousand Dinners^® (N1KD) was founded as an event to build awareness of the global landmine crisis and to raise funds for mine action.  All of the proceeds are used to fund Adopt-A-Minefield’s mine action programs. On these special evenings, tens of thousands of individuals around the world bring together their friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues in their homes, restaurants, community centers, and other venues to have dinner and raise funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance.  Launched in 2001, N1KD events have been held in over 50 countries around the world, with tens of thousands of participants raising millions of dollars for mine action. 

Night of a Thousand Dinners provides a rare opportunity for individuals, businesses, and community-based organizations to directly participate in solving a global problem.  By participating in N1KD, hosts and guests help to clear minefields, save lives, share information, and provide essential resources for survivors.  In many countries, mine removal is the first and vital step toward a clean and productive environment, enabling families to reclaim their land and allowing people to live without fear.

This event allows individuals, families and communities around the world help save lives, foster sustainable development, provide health services and empower communities affected by the negative impact of landmines around the world. 

How Does It Work?

Hosts register their dinners online where they are provided with dinner tips, recipes, and information on the global landmine crisis, sample outreach materials, and creative ideas for making dinners a success.  Hosts can use the site to organize and keep track of their dinners and guests.  Hosts can also sign up for a non-dinner and invite guests NOT to come for dinner, but to contribute to the cause.

Who Participates in Night of a Thousand Dinners?

Participants in Night of a Thousand Dinners range from students to celebrities to heads of state.  Key supporters include Adopt-A-Minefield Goodwill Ambassador Paul McCartney, the U.S. State Department and its embassies, the Canadian Foreign Ministry and its consulates, and the World Federation of UNAs.  Adopt-A-Minefield is also working with the American Chambers of Commerce and Rotary International to further expand the global reach of the event. Anyone can participate!

Adopt-A-Minefield encourages hosts to be as creative or traditional as they choose. Hosts should see their dinners as an opportunity to engage their guests in broader discussions of world affairs, exploring their own unique role in affecting change on a global scale. In previous years people have hosted ticketed events, themed evenings at local restaurants, potlucks in their homes and community dinners at their schools. For the 2008 event, Adopt-A-Minefield suggests hosts to reach out to neighbors, colleagues, and associates from different cultures and invite them to their dinners.  In this way, people can come together around the issue of landmines, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and encouraging all global citizens to take action.

How Much Does It Cost to Host a Dinner?

Night of a Thousand Dinners is an event in which everyone can participate; each host sets the contribution rate for his or her own dinner.  Past contributions have ranged from $10 per guest to more than $1,000 per guest. 

Who Administers Night of a Thousand Dinners?

Night of a Thousand Dinners is a joint initiative of the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF) and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) for Adopt-A-Minefield.  UNA-USA and CLF jointly administer the initiative in partnership with Adopt-A-Minefield (UK)™ and Adopt-A-Minefield (Sweden)™. 

How Are the Funds Raised for N1KD Used?

Proceeds from Night of a Thousand Dinners are used to support for mine clearance, survivor assistance and mine risk education initiatives in the area of greatest need.  Hosts may also choose to raise funds specifically for the clearance of cluster munitions, mine action projects in Africa or in any other country Adopt-A-Minefield is working, which currently includes Afghanistan, Bosnia, Croatia, Cambodia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Laos, Lebanon, Mozambique and Vietnam.

How Can I Get More Information?

To find more information on Night of a Thousand Dinners and to register your dinner please visit our Night of a Thousand Dinners page  or if you are in Canada CLICK HERE. You may also call 212-907-1344 in the U.S and 416-365-9461 in Canada.