Tony winner Adrienne Warren will perform at the 40th Anniversary DIFFA Gala on March 28.

Staged at Chelsea Piers, the lineup will also feature vocalist and trumpeter Brian Newman, and DJ Michaelangelo L’Acqua. The Gala commemorates DIFFA's forty years of impactful initiatives raising awareness and granting funds to organizations that provide treatment, direct care services, preventive education programs and advocacy for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

Established in 1984 in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, DIFFA has since expanded its mission to encompass broader community challenges such as homelessness and mental wellness.

“What started as a group of designers and manufacturer’s gathering in an NYC basement to raise money to help support their ailing friends and co-workers' doctor's visits and living expenses, has grown into a catalyst for change. Since our founding, we’ve granted more than $55 million to organizations which provide direct care to those most in need of assistance,” shared Dawn Roberson, the Executive Director of DIFFA.

Tony winner David Rockwell, who currently serves as Chair Emeritus of DIFFA, added that “DIFFA has been a cause very close to my heart for more than 30 years. I’ve seen first-hand how the organization has galvanized the design community to rally our talents, resources, and creativity in the face of some of the most intractable social and healthcare challenges of our era. I’m so proud to celebrate 40 years of giving back and am excited about DIFFA’s next chapter.”

The gala will feature an award ceremony, special video segments highlighting an honoree from each decade of DIFFA's history, and recognition for the work carried out by DIFFA’s grantees, including organizations such as Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Housing Works, God’s Love We Deliver, Bailey House, SAGE, Health, Hetrick-Martin Institute, and Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. 

For more information on DIFFA and the full list of grantees, visit DIFFA.org.