Eight years ago, I was honored to join the national board of DIFFA at the invitation of its chairman, my friend and colleague David Rockwell. DIFFA, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities and granted over $40 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide. I’ve been pleased to be able to support DIFFA in a number of ways, including this year joining its “Specify With Care” program jointly with Maya Romanoff.
After joining the national board, I immediately started organizing a committee in Las Vegas to bring Dining by Design, one of DIFFA’s signature dazzling fundraising events to Las Vegas. But then, with the 2008 financial crisis, a start-up fundraiser had to take lower priority among other community needs.
Now, the long-ago dream is about to happen with the first Las Vegas edition of Picnic by Design, to be celebrated September 12 at Symphony Park at the Smith Center. The Roger Thomas Collection will be a Presenting Sponsor, and I am privileged to serve as the event’s honorary chairman. This festive event will benefit “the center,” as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada is known.
Cray Bauxmont-Flynn, a member of the center’s Board of Directors, has it beautifully organized. A companion to DIFFA’s popular “Dining by Design” program, the outdoor events are held regularly in other cities around the U.S., and add a fun and festive twist. I’m so glad we’re finally bringing it to Las Vegas!
There are four fun ways to sponsor. You can click to obtain the appropriate form (and find out more about the details of each sponsorship opportunity) using the links below:
- Create one of the ten showcase picnic tables: click here.
- Express your design aesthetic by creating a one-of-a-kind picnic basket: click here.
- Showcase your products with an in-kind contribution: click here.
- Sign up for one of three tiers of cash sponsorship, gaining tickets and recognition: click here.
See you in September!