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    Pandemic pivots

    5 new Dallas-Fort Worth fundraisers with pandemic-safe party plans this spring

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Mar 23, 2021 | 5:25 pm

    Although there's light at the end of the tunnel as more Dallas-Fort Worth residents get vaccinated against COVID-19, large fundraising gatherings are still not a great idea.

    So, more local nonprofits have come up with creative ways to raise vital funds virtually, masked-up, and at a distance. Here are some of the newest ones to unveil pandemic-safer plans. (Previously announced events can be found here, here, here, and here.)

    Tarrant Area Food Bank's Empty Bowls, March 25
    The beloved Fort Worth food bank fundraiser — at which attendees usually enjoy samples from local restaurants and take home a bowl to keep — has morphed into an online fundraiser where donors can sponsor boxes of food for families. An Empty Bowls Mega Mobile Market will take place 10 am-2 pm March 25 at Dickies Arena to provide food to Tarrant residents who need assistance. (Literally, as they point out, using Empty Bowls donations to fill empty bowls — by feeding those who are food insecure.) With each virtual box donated, guests will receive their own “studio bowl” handcrafted by local artists. They are to be picked up at a contactless thrive-thru event March 26, also at Dickies Arena. For more information, visit the website.

    Spring Gallery Week Preview Party at Artspace111, March 26
    Popular Fort Worth gallery Artspace111 hosts a kickoff party for Spring Gallery Week, coming up March 27-April 2. The preview party, taking place March 26, will toast the gallery's new exhibition by Carly Allen-Martin and Jim Woodson, A Space Between Time. The ticketed event ($500-$1,000 for a table for 4) will feature socially distanced private tables with special appearances from artists, live music, food, limited edition prints, gifts, discounts on art, and refreshments. A virtual VIP experience ($100) will allow collectors access to an exclusive virtual preview of the new artwork available, as well as discounts on purchases. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. For more information and tickets, visit the Artspace111 website.

    The Women’s Center of Tarrant County Victory Over Violence campaign, April 6
    In lieu of its annual Victory Over Violence Walk/Run fundraiser, The Women's Center of Tarrant County is launching a “Victory over Violence-Hope Starts Here” campaign by selling $25 T-shirts to “Turn Tarrant Teal.” (Teal is the color used to represent Sexual Assault Awareness Month.) On April 6 — Sexual Assault Community Action Day — the group will address the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. There also will be events with universities and colleges all month long. The organization encourages the community to wear their teal T-shirts on April 6 and throughout the month to raise awareness about issues of sexual violence. For more information and T-shirts, visit the website.

    The Ability Connection Telethon, April 8
    Ability Connection is hosting the inaugural “Ability Connection Telethon” to raise funds toward its vital mission to enrich the lives of people with disabilities. Virtual attendees will get to tune in to a retro evening (think: vintage Jerry Lewis Telethons in the 70's and 80's) from the comfort of their own home. The event, which begins at 6:30 pm, will be emceed by "America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru," Steve Kemble, with an appearance by WFAA morning anchor Kara Sewell, and entertainment by Sinatra specialist Ricki Derek. The free event will also feature inspiring stories and raffle prizes. Register on the website.

    Austin Street Center presents No Place Like Home, April 29
    The sixth annual No Place Like Home event will be an all-outdoors event at Klyde Warren Park to raise funds and awareness for Austin Street Center, one of the largest low barrier shelters in Dallas. The evening will include an open-atmosphere, socially-distanced cocktail reception with live entertainment and a silent auction featuring vacation homes, staycations, home goods, and more. Electronic ticketing and entry will be implemented, and masks are required. The event is co-chaired by Mackenzie Kleinert and Cynammon Burns Allen. Tickets are $45 apiece, or $80 for a pair; a VIP upgrade is also available. For more information and tickets, visit the website.

    Steve Kemble (right) will emcee Ability Connection's upcoming telecast.

    Vine & Dine
      
    Photo courtesy of AbilityConnection
    Steve Kemble (right) will emcee Ability Connection's upcoming telecast.
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    news/society

    Welcome to the Dreamstate

    Dreamy DIFFA Dallas gala invites glammed-up guests into surreal soiree

    Lindsey Wilson
    May 16, 2025 | 1:30 pm
    DIFFA 2025
    Photo by Kelly Alexander
    Gabriella Monte

    We're always in favor of a gala where you can turn up wearing pajamas, but when that gala is House of DIFFA, those PJs had better be glam.

    The 2025 theme combined the eerie with the ethereal: Dreamstate, which DIFFA describes as "a surreal realm where the power of dreams fuels transformation and fantasy gives way to fearless impact."

    And this year's guests were definitely not sleeping. Along with silky, slinky, sequined pajama sets and even a bit of racy lingerie, attendees at this avant-garde fashion extravaganza interpreted the theme in myriad ways: fairy wings, lacy masks, crowns, and plenty of ballgowns, rhinestone tuxedos, and high heels (on all genders) tall enough to rival skyscrapers.

    Chaired by Payton Martin and Jacob Samson and sponsored by the Louis L. Borick Foundation, the May 3 evening began with a private VIP cocktail hour. Then the masses could descend on the Sheraton Dallas Hotel for a vibrant two hours of sipping specialty drinks, posing for photographers, and bidding on both the silent auction items and legendary jacket collection.

    DIFFA 2025Midsummer night scene in the runway show.Photo by Thomas Garza

    These custom, one-of-a-kind jackets were all created exclusively for DIFFA Dallas, and included pieces from both local and global designers. The extensive silent auction offered everything from luxury fashion and jewelry to artwork, spa services, furniture, decor, and exclusive dining and travel experiences, with all proceeds benefiting HIV/AIDS service organizations across North Texas.

    This year's beneficiaries include:

    • AIDS Interfaith Network
    • AIDS Outreach Center
    • AIDS Services of Dallas
    • AIDS Walk South Dallas
    • CAN Community Health
    • Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
    • Children's Medical Center ARMS Clinic
    • Cook Children's Health Foundation
    • Dallas Hope Charities
    • East Texas Cares Resource Center
    • Elevate North Texas
    • Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund
    • Health Services of North Texas
    • HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness
    • Legacy Cares
    • Legal Hospice of Texas
    • Open Arms, Inc. - Bryan's House
    • Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
    • Prism Health North Texas
    • Resource Center of Dallas
    • A Sister's Gift
    • Sonya's House
    • Tarrant County Samaritan Housing
    • White Rock Friends

    A special display also showed off outfits and headgear worn by such stars as Madonna, Shania Twain, Chappel Roan, and Zoe Saldaña in music videos, photo shoots, and on the red carpet.

    When the doors of the Lone Star Ballroom were thrown open, guests quickly sought their seats so that the program and three-course dinner could commence.

    Following remarks from the co-chairs and DIFFA Dallas board chair Ken Weber, the lady herself presented the Donna Fishel Community Hero Award to Todd Bacon, pastor of White Rock Community Church and community liaison for White Rock Friends.

    For the last 30 years, White Rock Friends has been committed to the health and well-being of its community, providing hot meals on weekends (one of the first and only in DFW) and running a "general store" that supplies personal care and household cleaning products to those in need.

    Then the DIFFA board of trustees got their moment in the spotlight, with waves of applause for Jacob Samson, Brandon Bell, Rick Castillo, Jonathan Flores, Steve Lopez, Paige Westhoff, Richard Rivas, David Chadd, Jainy Selvakumar, Danny Acevedo, Rhiannon Bolen, Christi Meril, J.R. Shoman, JR Hernandez, and Eric Bright.

    Strutting the runway next were the 2025 DIFFA Dallas Style Council Ambassadors: Ashley Anderson Smith, Sonya Morfor, Bill Moore, Korey Williams, Shelle Carrig, Amy Baumann, Lisa Endicott, Clayton Nabors, Chad Collom, Deborah Bowles, Sonia Simmons, Sierre Tuthill, Kelly Wolfenberger, Kelli Seliger, Danny Cabrera, Steven Hoyl, and Abbe Fenimore.

    DIFFA 2025Booker T. Washington Senior Modeling Luxury Jacket Photo by Danny Campbell

    To introduce the recipient of the Candy Long Excellence in Fashion Award, Erykah Badu surprised the crowd in an oversized hat and floor-length black veil. She revealed the winner to be Swedish-born activist and costume designer B. Åkerlund, who has outfitted some of the world's most iconic artists such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Britney Spears.

    Comedian Dana Goldberg returned as auctioneer, leading both a spirited paddle raise and a bidding race for such elite live-auction packages as a week in Puerto Vallarta, a villa stay in Costa Rica, a South African safari for two, a colorful painting of Dolly Parton titled Born With a Good Heart by Ashley Longshore, an in-home private chef dinner for six, a jaunt to Cortana, Italy, and a romantic Turks & Caicos escape for two.

    This led into the much-anticipated fashion show, which opened with a "Diamonds Are Forever" James Bond tableau and then ran the gamut from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to "Rhinestone Rodeo." At different points, the enraptured audience experienced dancers from Ballet North Texas, live musicians scattered across the T-shaped runway, and pajama-clad phone operators cooing to their callers. It was, as always, an over-the-top night to remember

    DIFFA Dallas' signature fundraising events continue throughout the year, with Burgers & Burgundy set for October 9 and the Holiday Wreath Collection happening in winter. The 2026 House of DIFFA will take place May 9, 2026, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

    Since 1984, DIFFA has granted millions of dollars to North Texas HIV/AIDS programs by raising funds through the production of incredible events highlighting the design community. DIFFA is one of the largest and most successful fundraising organizations for HIV/AIDS nonprofit service providers and education programs within Texas, New York, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Washington.

    DIFFA is the only HIV/AIDS organization in Texas that provides non-earmarked funding exclusively to HIV/AIDS service efforts in our communities, thus providing for the direct care for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Dallas is DIFFA's largest fundraising chapter. The unique design-focused events DIFFA Dallas holds include Burgers and Burgundy, DIFFA Wreath Celebration, and House of DIFFA.

    DIFFA 2025
      

    Photo by Kelly Alexander

    Gabriella Monte

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