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    Power Philanthropy

    How do you raise $1.2 million at a single lunch? Ask Dallas women.

    Jennifer Chininis
    Nov 11, 2016 | 4:47 pm

    Recently the Dallas Women’s Foundation held its 31st annual luncheon presented by U.S. Trust at the Hilton Anatole. Which means that 1,200 of the city’s most engaged women were all in the same place, at the same time, to support the same mission: investing in women and girls and empowering women’s philanthropy to build a better world.

    Many of the women in that room purchase a seat for the luncheon year over year, not just to support DWF, but also to be together. To share stories. To be inspired.

    And inspired they were — first by the fundraising totals that kept ticking up as the luncheon progressed, because attendees were encouraged to donate via text message, and they did.

    On the screen behind the stage were the names of those real-time donors, and it was thrilling to see the numbers rise. With those donations, sponsor dollars, and ticket sales, the tally reached $1.2 million.

    When something needs getting done, just ask women to do it.

    The inspiration continued with keynote speaker Candy Chang, whom DWF president and CEO Roslyn Dawson Thompson called a “rare and wonderful person” in her introduction. Chang is best known for the Before I Die project, which took on a life of its own when she wrote the words “Before I die I want to _______” on a chalkboard wall on an abandoned building in New Orleans after losing someone she loved.

    Her neighbors came out to write down their hopes, dreams, and fears, and when the wall filled up, they would wash it down and do it all over again. Eventually that house became a home again when someone bought the property, but Before I Die is so much bigger than that first wall in New Orleans.

    In addition to the website, there are 500 Before I Die walls in countries around the world, including Iran, Iraq, South Korea, Chile, and Mexico, in addition to other U.S. cities. Chang shared messages from some of those walls, which ranged from the funny (“Before I die, I want to be a stripper and a nun at the same time!”) to the heartbreaking (“Before I die, I want to be accepted by my parents”).

    “Contemplating death helps us focus on what’s really meaningful in our life,” Chang said, who added that the walls are a “big, honest mess.”

    She also thanked those in attendance, as she herself relies on funds and grants to continue her work. “I’m one of the girls that your support helps,” she said.

    Before I Die has inspired a Confessions project in Las Vegas — “Your name is tattooed on my ass,” “I eat too much cheese,” and “I still love her two girlfriends and five years later” are among the messages — as well as an interactive mural in Philadelphia.

    “Our public spaces can take a profound role in helping us understand beauty and pain,” Chang said.

    DWF did a remix of Chang’s Before I Die project, with cards that read, “A better world is _______.” Everyone was asked to fill them out and contribute to the installation that had been started by women and girls impacted by DWF, which was on display at the hotel ballroom entrance.

    To continue the ripple effect of hope and healing, those cards will end up in places across the city like NorthPark Center and Stewpot Alliance.

    Founded in 1985, the Dallas Women’s Foundation is the largest regional women’s fund in the world. Built on the belief that when you invest in a woman, there is a ripple effect that benefits her family, her community, and her world, DWF has granted more than $32 million to help create opportunities and solve issues for women and girls.

    Ben Yip, Trea Yip, Quynh Nguyen Yip

    Ben Yip, Trea Yip, Quynh Nguyen Yip
      
    Photo by Kristina Bowman
    Ben Yip, Trea Yip, Quynh Nguyen Yip
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    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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