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    Coronavirus pivot

    6 new Dallas-Fort Worth charity events raise crucial funds from a social distance

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Oct 19, 2020 | 2:11 pm
    DAL_2018 Big Black Tie Ball
    The Big Black Tie Ball will take place virtually next month.
    Photo by John Hudson Photography

    Crowded galas, luncheons, concerts, and even group fun runs are still off limits for Dallas-Fort Worth nonprofits trying to raise vital funds to support their missions. The coronavirus pandemic continues to force charities to rethink their fundraising events for fall and winter.

    And now they're getting more creative than ever.

    The newest list of DFW nonprofit benefits includes a drive-in gala, socially distanced concert, virtual Thanksgiving trot, and cherished holiday gift market that allows supporters to stay home (and shop till they drop!) for the holidays.

    Meals on Wheels Ain’t Life Grand-ish Drive-in Gala, October 24
    Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County takes its grand gala outdoors, with a socially distanced, drive-in event featuring live music, food, beverages, raffle and auction prizes, and more. Dallas celebrity chef Eddie Deen will prepare dinner-sized charcuterie boards, served to every ticket holder upon entering the gala grounds. Michael Summers and 30 Miles East will play a live concert that can be enjoyed from individual parking stations — either from inside cars or on lawn chairs outside.

    The gala takes place 6:30-9:30 pm October 24 at Historic Boyd Farm, located off North Highway 205 in Collin County. Tickets are $150 for dinner-for-two on one charcuterie board, or $75 for a single meal, no board. (A curbside drive-through option is available for those who want to enjoy dinner at home, along with a livestream of the event on Facebook.) All proceeds support Meals on Wheels' mission to provide nutritious meals, daily human contact, and supportive services to local elderly and disabled residents.

    Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Women of Distinction Virtual Event, October 30
    Girl Scouts' annual Women of Distinction event, one of the organization’s largest fundraisers, will take place virtually to honor individuals and Girl Scouts making an impact in the community. This year's honorees include Anne H. Chow, CEO of AT&T Business Services; Alice Rodriguez, consumer bank senior advisor at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks; TXU’s chairman emeritus Erle Nye; and Elina Dickens and Abigail Simon, local Gold Award Girl Scouts.

    Attendees can experience a candid conversation about leading with resilience during difficult times and will receive a “digital swag bag” filled with special offers and coupons. Table sponsors get individual “virtual table” rooms to chat, interact, and watch the event together with their guests. Tickets, $35, benefit Girl Scouts' focus on providing leadership development; socio-emotional skill cultivation; and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) leadership programs to more than 25,000 girls in Northeast Texas.

    Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Dallas Big Black Tie Virtual Ball, November 7
    One of the most anticipated galas of fall will be virtual and free to the public. There are, however, options to purchase pre-show event experiences, including a virtual mixologist class; virtual wine tasting; or dinner for two presented as a $100 gift card to favorite local restaurants. Tickets range from $125 (including virtual wine or cocktail experience, silent auction, post-show party, and more) to $500 (cocktail experiences, dinner gift card, and more).

    Or, simply log on to the website at 7 pm November 7 to watch a livestream of the main event (sign up here). It will include presentations on Big Brothers Big Sisters' mission and accomplishments, opportunities to bid in a virtual silent auction, and more. Special guests will include former President George W. Bush and Real Housewives of Dallas star Stephanie Hollman. More information here.

    American Heart Association Socially Distanced Heart Fest, November 8
    Instead of throwing its popular Heart Ball under one roof, the American Heart Association is hosting its first-ever socially distanced concert called The Heart of Collin County – Heart Fest, featuring favorite Texas country artist Robert Earl Keen. The event will take place the evening of November 8 at Crest Cadillac/Infiniti/Volvo in Frisco and will include a Dallas Cowboys watch party, five-course chef tasting menu with cocktail pairings, and a live, outdoor performance by Keen.

    Attendees will be provided with black car service, and each party will watch the concert from a designated socially distanced area. Guests can also bid on live auction items and give to the AHA through an Open Your Heart initiative. They'll enjoy food by some of the area's most distinguished chefs, including Aaron Staudenmaier (Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar), Hugh Stewart (The Crest Bistro), Nathan Boothe (Ida Claire), Antonio Zamora (Mexican Sugar), and Skyler Gauthier (Haywire). Tickets start at $3,000 for two and can be purchased here.

    Junior League of Collin County ‘Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market, November 12-15
    Junior League of Collin County's cherished ‘Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market is providing a virtual shopping experience this year. Themed, appropriately, "Home for the Holidays," the event allows shoppers to buy merchandise from favorite vendors from the comfort of their couch. From November 12-15, shoppers can browse and buy at neaththewreath.org or through the expanded mobile app, available in the Apple store and Google Play.

    There is no admission to enter the virtual ‘Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market, but donations (in lieu of the traditional ticket cost) to support JLCC's civic projects will be welcome. Raffle tickets are on sale now, and an online silent auction will go live November 14. More information here.

    YMCA Dallas and Fort Worth Virtual Turkey Trots, November 26
    While most charity runs and walks have also gone virtual in 2020, this is the biggie. The annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots in both Dallas and Fort Worth will be virtual events only. Families and individuals can safely trot around their neighborhoods, or inside on their treadmills, wherever they may be on Thanksgiving.

    Anyone who pre-registered for the in-person Turkey Trot races in Dallas or Fort Worth will be automatically transferred to a virtual registration. (Don't worry, you can still pick up your official 2020 Turkey Trot long-sleeved T-shirt at select YMCA branches or Luke’s Locker locations, or have it mailed directly to you.)

    Proceeds from the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot will benefit the organization’s COVID-19 relief support for children and families and the preschool program at the Park South Family YMCA. Adult registration is $35 from October 19-November 25. Learn more and register at www.thetrot.org and www.fwtrot.org.

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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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