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DIFFA's Angels & Demons Gala Raises $400K for HIV/AIDS Support, Honors Fern Mallis

award · 2026-03-24

On March 19, the DIFFA Angels & Demons gala took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Harlem, raising over $400,000 for HIV/AIDS initiatives. The event honored Fern Mallis, founder of New York Fashion Week and a founding DIFFA board member, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Hosted by Christian Siriano, Reem Acra, David Rockwell, and Jamie Drake, the evening featured a runway show, student installations, and remarks highlighting DIFFA's history. Founded in 1984, DIFFA has distributed more than $60 million to organizations providing healthcare and support services nationwide. The gala emphasized the ongoing need for funding amid federal budget uncertainties.

Key facts

  • DIFFA's Angels & Demons gala raised over $400,000 on March 19 at Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Harlem
  • Fern Mallis received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her role as a founding DIFFA board member and founder of New York Fashion Week
  • Christian Siriano, Reem Acra, David Rockwell, and Jamie Drake served as event hosts
  • DIFFA was founded in 1984 and has distributed more than $60 million to HIV/AIDS support organizations
  • The event featured student installations from Pratt Institute, New York School of Interior Design, and School of Visual Arts

Entities

Artists

  • Christian Siriano
  • Reem Acra
  • David Rockwell
  • Jamie Drake
  • Kenneth Cole
  • Scott Bromley
  • Vanessa Deleon

Institutions

  • DIFFA
  • Council of Fashion Designers of America
  • New York School of Interior Design
  • School of Visual Arts
  • Pratt Institute
  • Fashion Group International
  • God's Love We Deliver
  • New York Fashion Week

Locations

  • Harlem
  • New York
  • Chicago
  • Dallas
  • San Francisco
  • Fire Island

Sources