DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS
DIFFA is one of the country’s largest supporters of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventive education for those at risk. Merging care and commerce, supporters of DIFFA come from all fields of fine design and the visual arts, including: architecture, fashion design, interior design, photography and consumer product design.
With fundraising efforts bolstered by strategic partnerships and unique events showcasing innovation and creativity, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities and granted over $38 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide.
Since being founded in 1984 by Patricia Green and Larry Pond, DIFFA has granted funds to organizations which fight AIDS by providing:
- preventive education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection
- treatment and direct-care services for people living with HIV/AIDS
- public policy initiatives which add resources to private sector efforts
Patricia Green continues to be active with DIFFA as an ex officio member of the DIFFA Board of Trustees. Larry Pond died of AIDS in October 1992.
DIFFA Board of Trustees
David Rockwell (Rockwell Group), Chairman
Susan Blond (Susan Blond, Inc.), Secretary
William Muphy (Kroll Zolfo Cooper, LLC), Treasurer
David Sheppard, Executive Director
Trustees:
Paola Antonelli, MoMA
Marc Blackwell, Mark Blackwell New York
James Druckman, New York Design Center
John Edelman, Design Within Reach
Nancy Epstein, Artistic Tile
Thom Filicia, Tom Filicia, Inc.
Donna Fishel, Nautilus Investments, Ltd.
Whoopi Goldberg, Whoop Inc.
Steven J. Heyer, Harry and David Holdings, Inc.
Sunny Hostin, Attorney
Lisa Kravet, Kravet Inc.
Barry LePatner, LePatner & Associates
Eileen McComb, Benjamin Moore
Richard Meier, Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP
Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group
Alfredo Parades, Polo Ralph Lauren
Evette Rios, Craft and design expert
Dan Stern, Reservoir Capital
Roger Thomas, Wynn Design & Development
Carlton Varney, Dorothy Draper & Company Inc.
Kelly Wearstler, Kelly Wearstler Interior Design
David Wine, The Related Companies L.P.
