At this weeks ISESBig Apple Award’s, I had the honor of introducing DIFFA to accept their CORE Award. This award goes to a group or organization that is Celebrating Outstanding Results from Events. I do love what they do in their fundraising and their cause – Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS. There is a LOT we can learn from them! Especially their Dining by Design!
For those of you not familiar with DIFFA and their work, allow me to impress you with some facts…
* In 1984, DIFFA mobilized the immense resources of design communities nationwide to create some of this country’s most memorable fundraising events and has granted over $40 Million dollars to organizations providing direct care and preventive education.
* For the past seven years, DIFFA has been cited by Funders Concerned about AIDS as one of the top 50 funders of HIV/AIDS in the United States
In particular, what I’ve come to love about DIFFA is how cleverly they combine art and commerce…all to promote fundraising in an exciting and theatrical way.
For example: Each Spring in New York, DIFFA’s DINING BY DESIGN debuts with a spectacular display of cuisine, creativity and glamor. The event showcases design luminaries and the “up-and-coming” along with culinary giants in a feast for the senses. And now DINING BY DESIGN is being produced in more than 10 cities across the country.
Clearly we can all learn something from DIFFA.
Take a look at this years addition of DIFFA’s Dining by Design!