DIFFA and CRI Join as Co-beneficiaries for Boston Home Decor Gala

In 1984, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, a group of 12 designers and architects came together in New York City to respond to the growing crisis and its effect on the design community—thus launching what became DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Just 5 years later, a group of activists, clinicians and people with the HIV virus gathered in Boston to create Community Research Initiative of New England (CRI), which addressed the need for community-based HIV/AIDS clinical research and ensuring access to care and treatment. Decades later both organizations are steadfast in their missions

These two dedicated groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS will come together as co-beneficiaries for the Second Annual Boston Home Décor Gala Preview on Thursday, November 17, 2016. The show features historic, modern and contemporary home furnishings and will donate 100% of proceeds from ticket sales to support DIFFA’s and CRI’s missions.

“We are so thrilled to be a beneficiary of the Boston Home Décor Show Gala Preview,” said Julie Marston, Executive Director of CRI. “What makes this even more special is that we are a beneficiary alongside DIFFA. We have a long history of supporting each other in the fight against HIV.”

Over the past 27 years, CRI has been dedicated to the study and ultimate FDA-approval of over 30 HIV antiviral drugs. CRI is still fighting for safer, simpler treatments and access to lifesaving drugs.  In addition, CRI has administered the Massachusetts State HIV Drug Assistance Program for 25 years, which allows all income-eligible Massachusetts residents living with HIV to receive assistance paying for medication or health insurance. Last year alone CRI served nearly 8,000 HIV-positive residents and covered close to 150,000 prescriptions. This is just one of many programs and initiatives CRI has implemented to ensure access to life saving HIV medication and health insurance coverage for those in need.

“We are honored to be a co-beneficiary alongside CRI, a leader in research and work to help those impacted by HIV/AIDS. We are also thankful to the Boston Home Decor Show for supporting our mission and inviting us once again to be a part of this amazing event, allowing us to increase awareness about our efforts to attendees of the show,” said DIFFA Executive Director Johanna Osburn.

Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has granted more than $42 million to support hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country combating HIV/AIDS through preventive education, treatment, direct care and advocacy. One of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS in the country, DIFFA has grown from a grassroots organization into a national foundation with chapters and community partners across the U.S. Through legendary events and fundraisers, DIFFA mobilizes the resources of the design industry to raise awareness and funds to provide year-round support to the needs of the organizations it supports.

Julie shared that “The design community has always been so generous to us and other HIV organizations throughout the country. This epidemic wiped out such a large portion of remarkable designers and artists – events like this pay tribute to those we lost and hope to those living with HIV,

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Boston Home Décor Show Gala Preview visit http://www.bostonhomedecorshow.com/gala.  Tickets start at $125 and include an evening of food, wine and music all to benefit CRI and DIFFA. For more information about supporting these two nonprofits visit www.crine.org and www.diffa.org.