Photos c/o of Shana Anderson and Joseph Brewster
On Friday, October 7, celebrity chefs from across the great state of Texas headed for the Ron Kirk Pedestrian Bridge for the eighth annual Burgers & Burgundy event hosted by Terri Provencal & Chef John Tesar benefiting DIFFA/ Dallas. Guests mingled on the bridge with the Dallas skyline as their backdrop as they sipped on cocktails and wine, listened to festive live music and sampled a wide variety of mouth-watering burgers created by John Tesar (Knife), Brian Luscher (Luscher’s Red Hots & The Grape), Jermaine Brown (Julia Pearl), Casey Thompson (Celebrity Chef), David Fingerman (Madrina), Sharon Van Meter (3015 at Trinity Groves), Blaine Staniford (Grace), Jacob Williamson (Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck), Rodman Shields (Common Table). Repel the Robot and The Please, Please Me, revved up the crowd with their upbeat songs, and attendees were entertained by local artists. The night also featured a silent auction of restaurant experiences, grills, and two designer dog houses, created by Gensler, this auction directly benefited DIFFA/Dallas.
DIFFA/Dallas Chairman of the Board, Chuck Steelman, thanked everyone for making this event successful year after year and WFAA Chanel 8 personality Jane McGarry announced the much-anticipated 2016 DIFFA/Dallas Style Council Ambassadors. Joining the prestigious Style Council are Gonzalo Bueno, Annika Cail, Justin (JC) Collins, Bill Corbellini, Caroline Kraddick, Suzi Ellis, Melissa Enriquez, Jenny Esping Kirtland, Faisal Halum, Lainie Kritser, Julian Leaver, Muffin Lemak, Josh Madans, Bina Palnitkar Patel and Ann Sutherland. Style Council Ambassadors will be representatives of DIFFA/Dallas as ambassadors to the community for the 2016-2017 season. They have the duty of helping DIFFA/Dallas raise awareness about the organization, as well as continue efforts in the education and prevention of HIV/AIDS throughout North Texas. Ambassadors are asked to donate their time to various AIDS Service Organizations across North Texas to become better educated about those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Along with their time, Ambassadors are crucial in aiding DIFFA/Dallas fundraising efforts.
DIFFA/Dallas’ annual gala, House of DIFFA, will be chaired by Sami Abboud and held on May 6, 2017 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas. This season, House of DIFFA takes you on “DIFFA Arabesque”, an enchanting journey with an astonishing fashion experience that will provide an exciting mix of philanthropy, theatrics and a legendary runway production. Hosting approximately 2,000 patrons, House of DIFFA is the event of the Dallas season showcasing a curated selection of one-of-a-kind, tailored jackets with all proceeds going towards grants for HIV/Aids service organizations in North Texas. “House of DIFFA Arabesque combines the boldness of courage with the beauty of peace. It represents resilience in the face of pain and strength in numbers. It’s about never giving up. While a lone stallion may get lost in the dark, Arabesque is the unified harras that stampedes into the light. Its saddle is tight; its stride is long; and its destination is freedom!” says Sami Abboud, House of DIFFA Chair. DIFFA/Dallas also announced the 2016 – 2017 raffle directly benefiting DIFFA/Dallas. This season the raffle item is a choice between a 2017 Land Rover Discovery or a 2017 Jaguar XE. There will be 1500 tickets sold and may be purchased for $100 each. DIFFA/Dallas’ Holiday Wreath Collection will be held on Thursday, November 10 at the Fashion Industry Gallery from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information regarding tickets or how to get involved, please visit www.diffadallas.org.
