The 5th annual, Picnic By Design was hosted by DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids) last week in the Big Apple! With help from 20 leading designers who curated one-of-a-kind picnic baskets, a whopping $50,000 was raised to aid the fight against HIV/AIDS.
I always like to highlight good causes, and this one just so happens to incorporate dining and design, so I thought it was only appropriate to share it with you all!
In the all-white Mercantile Annex venue in New York City, more than 200 guests had one eye on the decadent gourmet snacks and another on the 20 unique picnic baskets that had been curated by some of the world’s leading designers. Familiar names contributing to the Picnic By Design cause included Andrea Algaze Design Concepts, Anthony Morris Designs, represented by Scott Brogan Group, FXFOWLE, Gensler + KNOLL, ICRAVE, id 810 design group, IIDA NY, Matouk, M + Ph, Michele Alfano / MoDmade NY, Scott Brownrigg, Stacy Garcia Inc., Stantec Architecture, Steven South, HLW Sponsored by Geiger, Ted Moudis Associates, Vanessa Deleon Associates, and Wills Design Associates.
All the picnic baskets were auctioned off on the night, and as a result, USD$50,000 was raised. The money will go towards increasing the organisations funds that are granted to charities providing treatment and direct care services for people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS. Recent grantees of DIFFA include, AIDS Leadership Foothills-area Alliance (ALFA), Ali Forney Center, The Alpha Workshops, Bailey House, and many more.
Here’s a little display of what the night entailed, including gourmet picnic snacks provided by Canard Inc, STK, Murray’s Cheese and Mr. Bing, which were enjoyed while lounging on outdoor furniture by Ernst and Herman Miller, and sipping specialty cocktails provided by Benhar Office Interiors, Cliffton Dry, Corralejo Tequila and Regal Wines.
Photography by Erik Bardin.