DIFFA, the Design Industries Foundation, has announced the allocation of $135,000 in grants to nine charitable organizations across New York City. Raised during DIFFA’s 40th Anniversary Gala at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers and its Après Ski event at Bryant Park Overlook in February 2024, these monies were distributed through the New York Community Trust from the foundation’s dedicated fund.
The grants provide critical funding to a variety of impactful programs, including the Ali Forney Center’s 911-alternative Crisis Response Team (CRT), which offers essential mobile medical and mental health services for racial minority and homeless LGBTQ youth, and Alpha Workshops’ Studio Practice arts training program, benefiting individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Bridging Access to Care was also funded for its comprehensive wellness events, which offer free screenings for depression, blood pressure, trauma, and HIV/Hep C/STI testing, therapeutic services, and pantry food boxes or grocery cards; as was New Pride Agenda’s Public Health Ambassador Training Program, an eight week cohort program that provides education and awareness to high risk community members about HIV/AIDS.
Additionally, grants will support the Correctional Institute of New York’s initiatives to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality in New York State prisons, specifically targeting those at risk of or diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, HCV, and/or OUD, as well as Visual AIDS for the Arts’ monthly Women’s Empowerment Art Therapy workshops for women living with HIV. Finally, DIFFA also awarded unrestricted grants to three of New York City’s most venerated charities: God’s Love We Deliver, Housing Works, and SAGE.
Dawn Roberson, Executive Director of DIFFA, comments, “Each grant represents a step forward in our expanded mission to address the most pressing issues. We are proud to partner with these organizations to foster a healthier and more inclusive society through innovative solutions.”
“These grants underscore DIFFA’s commitment to supporting diverse communities facing critical challenges in New York City,” adds Tom Polucci, Chairman of the Board of DIFFA. “A heartfelt thank you goes to all those who helped us in raising these funds to make a DIFFA-rence.”
For more information on DIFFA and its grant making process, visit diffa.org.
