DIFFA Goes to Church With Its Annual Fundraiser

In an evening filled with dancing drag queens, interior designers donning masks, and the spirit of generosity, DIFFA on Wednesday evening staged its annual fundraiser at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood.

Also known as the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, DIFFA was founded 40 years ago to fight the disease. But as Tom Polucci, chairman of the board of DIFFA, explained: “We’re really onto something new. We’ve reinvented our mission, our logo. We’re building a much more collaborative organization with our chapters in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and here in New York.” He said that not only does DIFFA support organizations helping those afflicted by HIV/AIDS, it also supports organizations assisting the homeless, those with mental health issues and those dealing with food insecurity.

Polucci, whose day job is director of interior design for the HOK architectural design firm, acknowledged that fundraising is getting harder. “There are a lot of organizations that need our resources, so we’re trying to do inventive things to get people to come out, to understand our cause, and to participate financially.

“AIDS is still disproportionately affecting people of color,” Polucci said. “If we’re thinking about it socio- economically, it’s the lower classes most affected because of their being unable to get education around health care and around medications. It’s really a challenge, particularly given the changes at the federal government level. Ten thousand people were released from Health and Human Services and within those 10,000 are people managing, surveilling and supporting research around HIV and AIDS who lost their jobs.”

The event, which raised more than $150,000 according to Polucci, attracted about 350 guests, many wearing masks in keeping with the masquerade format, and the theme of the night, “Splendor in the Shadows, Purpose in the Light.” They delighted in the spectacle of drag queens sashaying beneath the soaring Gothic arches of the cathedral. The crowd also enjoyed performances by Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Rhonda Ross, a daughter of Diana Ross; drag performer Elliott with Two Ts, and DJ Johnsville.

The evening kicked off by honoring the Angelo Donghia Foundation for its long-standing support of the DIFFA Student Design Initiative, which provides hundreds of students with hands-on design experiences, mentorship and a connection to DIFFA’s mission. The student projects are featured at DIFFA’s annual fundraising galas. The late and legendary Angelo Donghia designed interiors for Barbara Walters, Diana Ross, Mary Tyler Moore, Halston, Ralph Lauren and Neil Simon, among other VIPs. He also decorated the Omni International Hotel in Miami, the Hotel InterContinental in New Orleans and PepsiCo’s world headquarters in Purchase, N.Y. and had a vast, multimillion-dollar business through his designing and licensing prowess.

“With federal funding for many of our vital programs at risk, every contribution is crucial in our support of alleviating food and housing insecurities, as well as advancing treatment, providing assistance, and ensuring critical access to health care in all its forms,” said Dawn Roberson, executive director of DIFFA. “The evening represents much more than just a masquerade ball, it’s meant to ignite hope and transform lives, while design, performance and philanthropy are celebrated and collide in the best of all fashions.” 

Among those present were dozens of executives and representatives from such firms as Gensler, the Rockwell Group and Grohe. “There are architects, interior designers, vendors and event planners here. It’s so nice to see all of my peers here. It’s really about giving back,” said Vanessa DeLeon, of the interior firm bearing her name.

A dancing queen at the DIFFA gala.