Michigan AIDS Coalition to Present DINING BY DESIGN, 9/13-15

The Michigan AIDS Coalition (MAC) in partnership with DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS announces its third-annual DINING BY DESIGN DETROIT with two events that will bring together some of the most talented and celebrated individuals in the worlds of interior design, art, architecture and fashion Sept. 13 and 15 at Joe Dumars Fieldhouse in Detroit (1120 West State Fair Ave., Detroit, MI 48203). Special guest Madison Hildebrand from Bravo's hit reality series, "Million Dollar Listing," will attend the Sept. 15 event.

"DINING BY DESIGN DETROIT is quickly becoming an integral part of DIFFA's national tour, and is becoming one of the largest fundraisers for HIV/AIDS services in Michigan," says Terry Ryan, acting CEO for MAC. "These events provide a terrific platform for us to shine a spotlight on the talented and diverse design and artistic community in Detroit."

COCKTAILS BY DESIGN/ArtWorks Detroit Auction at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, will showcase 100 original works of art curated by ArtWorks Detroit, a team of professional artists who are dedicated to the fight against HIV. Prominent Artists –including Thom Bohnert, Carl Demeulenaere, Gerhardt Knodel, Yoko Ono, Bill Rauhauser, Clinton Snider, Russell Thayer and Vagner Whitehead – will have artwork featured in thrilling live and silent auctions. Guests will also enjoy scrumptious food prepared by 25 of the hippest local restaurants, La Crema Wines, and EFFEN® Vodka specialty cocktails. Innovative designer tablescapes and room schemes created by Michigan's foremost interior designers will be on display, including an installation created for La Crema by nationally renowned designer Marc Blackwell, and Lincoln's installation designed by architectural giant, Rosetti. Detroit Flyhouse and DJ PowdrBlu will perform.

Local interior designers, graphic and industrial designers, artists and architects are creating over-the-top dining environments for DIFFA'S DINING BY DESIGN GALA DINNER at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. These awe-inspiring tablescapes will become interactive dining areas where guests – including Bravo's Madison Hildebrand – will enjoy a gourmet dinner prepared by Matt Prentice, A Culinary Experience. The motivational Drum Café will perform during the event's experiential auction that will feature 100 items, including a breath-taking cruise on the Zambezi Queen (in Africa). The Motor City's own jazz crooner Ben Sharkey will also perform while couture fashions are on display.

Tickets ($100 COCKTAILS BY DESIGN/ARTWORKS DETROIT AUCTION and $250 DINING BY DESIGN DETROIT) are available by clicking on the Events tab at www.michiganaidcoalition.org. For more information, contact Shanthi Sivanandham at 248-545-1435, Ext. 105 - ssivanandham@michiganaidscoalition.org, or Terry Ryan at 248-545-1435, Ext. 123, tryan@michiganaidscoalition.org.

DIFFA DETROIT tri-chairs are Ann Duke from Tappers Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Kelly Deines from Rossetti, and Bruce MacDonald from Art Van.

Sponsors include EFFEN® Vodka, La Crema Wines, Lincoln and Art Van. Media sponsors include Hour Detroit and Between The Lines. Artpack Services, Inc. of Farmington will professionally install artwork.

The mission of MAC is to prevent HIV/AIDS in Michigan by promoting healthy lifestyles, providing and investing in evidence-based, innovative programs and through advocacy and education. MAC is one of Michigan's largest non-profit, community-based organizations dedicated to health promotion, harm and risk reduction, HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention education, grant making and public policy. MAC has conducted thousands of workshops and trainings, reaching over a half million people – 30,000 in the last year alone. Find more information at: http://www.michiganaidscoalition.org.

DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States. Since being founded in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide over $40 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide. For more than 27 years, DIFFA has been one of the country's largest supporters of both direct care for people living with AIDS and preventative education for those at risk. For more information visit www.diffa.org.