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    Artful fundraising

    Alluring Two x Two fête fetches $8 million for amFAR and Dallas Museum of Art

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Nov 13, 2019 | 10:13 am

    The 21st edition of Two x Two for AIDS and Art whisked guests to Morocco for an exotic dinner and contemporary art auction benefiting amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the Dallas Museum of Art.

    As 500 patrons arrived at the The Rachofsky House's famous 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome tent on October 26, clouds of blue ombre hydrangea crawled over the entry, while Moroccan lanterns, candles, and tiles filled the dome. Using the tent interiors and giant video board, the auction items — there were 153 pieces on offer — were displayed throughout the night.

    The gala was designed and executed by planner extraordinare Todd Fiscus of Todd Events and hosted by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky along with Lisa and John Runyon.

    As usual, the sold-out, black-tie affair attracted a who's who among Dallas art collectors and philanthropists, as well as artists and supporters from around the world — even a few royals. Among the notable attendees were presenting sponsor Nancy C. Rogers, Vogue editor Hamish Bowles, Two x Two director Melissa Ireland, Jessica and Dirk Nowitzki, Kameron Westcott, Kara and Randall Goss, Charlotte Jones Anderson, Capera Ryan, Meghan Looney, Nasiba Hartland-Mackie, Edward P. Bass, Brian Bolke, Faisal Halum, Emily and Steve Summers, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, and Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece.

    The Moroccan-inspired fête began with a cocktail reception featuring sips by Ruinart champagne, Tequila Casa Dragones, Moët Hennessy USA, and Belvedere. Guests perused the luxury items in the silent auction before sitting down for a multicourse dinner.

    The co-chairs took the stage to thank the sponsors, donors and attendees of the 21st annual event.

    “Embarking into our third decade of Two x Two, it is clear that the enthusiasm continues to swell around supporting these two organizations," said Howard Rachofsky, who went on to announce a special initiative for the evening.

    "Having started Two x Two week with the devastating impact from tornadoes in our neighborhood, it was unanimous among all leadership at Two x Two, the Dallas Museum of Art, and amfAR that a portion of the proceeds this year be given to support the relief efforts in our immediate community," he told the crowd. "After all, Two x Two was created to save lives and brighten them up with the beauty of art."

    Kevin Robert Frost, chief executive officer at amfAR, presented artist Alex Katz with amfAR’s 2019 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.

    “Our honoree this evening joins a pantheon of distinguished honorees who represent the crème de la crème of contemporary American art," he said. "I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of our honored artist award than Alex Katz.”

    Anna Katherine Brodbeck, the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, added about the artist, "Katz has been steadfastly creating portraits, often of loved ones and friends, and environmentally scaled landscapes for the past 60 years. However, he clearly does not rest on his laurels."

    Katz's painting SOUTH LIGHT 2 wasfeatured at the gala, which, Brodbeck said, "evinces the mastery of a long career while still surprising in its immediacy of expression, worlds away from the punchy stylization of pop art, the movement of which he is considered by many to be a progenitor.”

    At the dinner’s conclusion, hit singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc entertained the crowd with a trio of his hits: "Wake Me Up," “I Need a Dollar,” and “The Man."

    Then patrons got the chance to raise big bucks in the live auction, conducted by Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe. The live auction featured seven artworks including those by Sarah Crowner, Derek Fordjour, Barry X Ball, Frank Bowling, Ross Bleckner, and Andre Butzer, as well as Katz. A number of luxury and experiential packages, an original 1969 Jean Prouvé filling station, and a complete library of 426 Taschen rare books were also up for grabs.

    In total, the night raised a breathtaking $8 million for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art.

    Those who wished to raise a celebratory glass or two headed for an after party, presented by Neiman Marcus, which at which DJ Lucy Wrubel rocked the back garden of The Rachofsky House till the wee hours.

    The annual black-tie gala, part of a week-long series of events, is the largest U.S. fundraiser for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art. Since its inception, Two x Two for AIDS and Art has raised over $92 million in support of essential AIDS research at amfAR and for the Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund at the Dallas Museum of Art.

    Emily Summers, Steve Summers

    Emily Summers, Steve Summers
      
    Photo by Ryan Emberley for Getty Images
    Emily Summers, Steve Summers
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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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