The fashion was wild and the entertainment even wilder at this year's House of DIFFA on April 27, where the theme "Royalty Untamed" encouraged guests to wear crowns, capes, leopard print, feathers, and plenty of sequins.
More than 1,200 attended packed the Sheraton Dallas Hotel for the annual DIFFA Dallas fundraising gala, where all proceeds from tickets, the silent and live auctions, raffle, legendary jacket collection, and Fund-A-Grant goes toward helping local nonprofits continue the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The evening began with an elegant cocktail hour where guests sipped on the signature cocktail, The Crown, while posing on the red carpet and admiring everyone's interpretation of the theme. Models showcased some of the 80 custom jackets from designers including Jessica Jesse, Cathey Miller, Travis Austin, Tex Motion, Balmain Paris, and Daniela Pasqualini. Attendees also browsed items in the silent auction from Matthew Trent, DHV Artworks, The Rug Company, Beverly’s, and more.
Then it was time to journey into the ballroom, where light projections and immersive sound enveloped the black-tie-clad guests in a rainforest jungle.
Dancers from the Dallas Black Dance Theater performed a moving number to Andra Day’s “Rise Up” while videos from DIFFA’s grant beneficiaries played throughout the ballroom.
DIFFA Dallas board chair Michael Buss welcomed the crowd to the 32nd House of DIFFA, surrounded onstage by the DIFFA Dallas board of trustees — Rhiannon Bolen, Eric Bright, JR Hernandez, Robbie Kruithoff, Steve Lopez, Christi Meril, Jennifer Miller, and Jainy Selvakumar — before introducing this year’s event co-chairs, Tim Garippa and Jacob Samson.
They explained that the night’s theme paid homage to the trailblazers who have tirelessly championed the cause of advocating for the fight against HIV/AIDS and embodying the spirit of modern-day royalty, including a young girl named Bella who has benefited from one of DIFFA Dallas’ grant beneficiaries, Elevate North Texas, and whose fashion would be showcased during the event.
“Bella is a queen in her own right and a great example of what led to tonight’s theme, Royalty Untamed,” Garippa said. “Our vision stemmed from the desire to recognize the diverse spectrum of contributors in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Whether supporting local initiatives, making an impact on the global stage, or helping influence others to reduce stigma, our world has been shaped by the tireless efforts of many around us … our own version of royalty.”
The evening's award recipients were then recognized:
- Steven Borick, the David White Legacy of Love Award
- Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas, Legend in the Fight Against AIDS Award
- Steven Pace, The Donna Fishel Community Hero Award
- Keith Carlisle, Excellence in Design Award
Then it was time for the 2024 Style Council Ambassadors to take to the runway. Style Council Ambassadors are an esteemed group of professional, civil, and social leaders who aid in DIFFA Dallas’ mission to generate awareness and raise funds for the deserving North Texas AIDS service organizations. This year's cohort included Tiffany Forsberg, Brad Pritchett, Alexa Gooden, Jodi Kahn, Justin Chavez, Philip Vanderford, Daniel Blaylock-Napolitan, Emily Dawson, Nic Rejcek, Cynthia Bailey, Kameron Westcott, Emily Ackerman, Carrie Hammonds, Tommy Hanson, Jenny Bivins, David Chadd, Brandon Bell, and Melissa Ellis.
As dinner service began, Q the Band featuring Grammy-nominated artist and winner of The Voice Australia, Vaughn Faison, graced the stage with performances of Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night Away” on an electric violin and saxophone, Whitney Houston’s “I Want To Dance With Somebody,” and Beyonce’s “Love On Top.”
Before the live auction, Buss took to the stage again to announce the winner of the live car raffle pull, with the winner getting their choice of any vehicle from any DFW Sewell dealership, with an MSRP value of up to $55,000.
Comedian Dana Goldberg, who has raised over 50 million dollars for nonprofits around the country, returned this year as auctioneer. Guests had the opportunity to bid on exclusive items and experiences, including:
- an Aspen Gay Ski Week
- a week in Puerto Vallarta for 12
- a luxurious Colorado retreat with private sauna
- a Málaga, Morocco, and the Canary Islands cruise
- rejuvenate and luxuriate at Mara’s Med Spa
- a shopping spree at Allan Knight
Once all the items had been bid on, Goldberg was notified that the winner of the Crested Butte, Colorado, vacation package wanted to re-donate for the opportunity for more funds to go back to DIFFA Dallas.
Following the live auction, Goldberg and Borick introduced the Fund-A-Grant goal, with Borick announcing that every dollar donated would be matched.
Goldberg then invited Bella Gray, whom the House of DIFFA co-chairs had mentioned earlier in the evening, to the stage to showcase a dress she designed and to say a few words to the crowd.
“In all honesty, four months ago when I got kicked out of my house for not being accepted, I didn’t think I would be here either," she said. "Four months ago, I wished I wouldn’t be here and I wished I wasn’t alive because I thought the only thing that life had to offer was the pain and suffering, I had felt the first 18 years of my life. But Elevate really stepped in at a time when I needed the most and since then I have met such amazing people that have showed me that life is more than the pain, lies, and the hurt I felt.”
Thanks to Gray's words, the Fund-A-Grant raised more than a quarter of a million dollars, more than double the previous record.
Then: fashion show time. The ballroom was transformed into the golden halls of Versailles, with kings and queens gracing the runway, before traveling to the animal kingdom and under the sea. Halfway through the show, the Dallas Black Dance Theater took to the stage to perform in DIFFA jackets, showcasing the iconic auction pieces that are a pillar of the event.
The next scene showcased music royalty, with different models walking the runway dressed as icons including Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, David Bowie, Janet Jackson, and ending with Beyonce and Madonna. To kick off the final scene of the show, “Homecoming,” the world-renowned and internationally famed Southern University Marching Band had the whole room standing and cheering.
After the finale, the models, show producer Robin Chauvin, Garippa, and Samson led attendees to the after-party downstairs in the Sheraton Hotel Dallas lobby bar, where the party raged until early in the morning.
Notable guests spotted include Chris Kimbrough, James Cagle, Eric Grove, Neysla Paltsev, Alyssa Edwards, Teric Thompson, Clint Thomson, Chad Collom, Steve Kemble, Marjon Henderson, Gibbs Henderson, Seth Brown, Daniel Davila, Gabriella Monte, Amber Griffin, Kathleen Martinez, Julian Leaver, Francisco Diaz, LeeAnne Locken, Payton Martin, Katy Brooks, Sharon Lee Clark, Marisa Howard, Madelaine Lam, Daisha Board, Rick Castillo, Darrell Thomas, Catherine Gibson Luba, Haley Clark, Richard Rivas, Erica Woodmore, and Leslie Matney.
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.
Photo by Francesca Nelo
Rhiannon Bolen, Tim Garippa, Steve Lopez, Jacob Samson, Ken Weber.
