Episode Details

DIFFA Dallas has been putting on one of the most spectacular charity fashion events in the country since the 1980s—and it started as a group of friends raising money for friends during the AIDS crisis.

Jeff Crilley welcomes three key figures behind the upcoming House of DIFFA: Richard Rivas (Trustee, DIFFA Dallas), Grant Farmer (Trustee, DIFFA Dallas), and Robyn Chauvin (Creative Director & Producer, House of DIFFA). Together they're responsible for an annual runway spectacle that's part Broadway performance, part charity gala—featuring roughly 80 models, nearly 200 looks, a two-story stage, and only one rehearsal.

In this episode:
– How DIFFA started in New York in 1984 and grew into a national organization, with the Dallas chapter serving over 20 local aid service organizations
– Where the money goes: non-earmarked funds covering counseling, medication, transportation, and other needs the government doesn't cover
– What makes the show so different from a typical runway event—large-scale costumes, headpieces, performers, and models who create characters on what may be the longest runway in Texas

House of DIFFA takes place May 9. Tickets, tables, and sponsorship information: diffadallas.org