DIFFA Dallas

We’re bringing the beef! 🍔✌️❤️

A huge thank you to Wagyu~X and Chef Michael Scott, who was instrumental in making this sponsorship happen and generously stepped up to provide the beef for all of our participating chefs at Burgers & Burgundy!

An award-winning chef and longtime Wagyu expert, Chef Michael will also be joining us with his own chef booth and burger creation — so you’ll get a chance to taste what he’s cooking up, too. 👨‍🍳🍔

We’re incredibly grateful to Chef Michael and Wagyu~X for their generous support of DIFFA Dallas and Burgers & Burgundy. ❤️🍷

🎧 We’re excited to welcome DJ Flip Millionz to Burgers & Burgundy 2026!

Known for his high-energy sets and incredible versatility, DJ Flip Millionz will be bringing the soundtrack to Burgers & Burgundy and keeping the good vibes going at our VIP Afterparty! 🪩✌️❤️

We’re so grateful to have Flip joining us this year and can’t wait for him to bring the energy!

🍔 Burgers & Burgundy 2026
📅 October 1 | The Village Dallas
🎟️ Limited tickets remain — https://onecau.se/bb2026

A Burgers + Burgundy icon is back. 🍔🍷✌️

We’re thrilled to welcome John Tesar, MICHELIN Star recipient and the founding chef of Burgers + Burgundy, back for our 17th annual event!

Join us October 1 for an unforgettable night of incredible food, w**e, and a little Peace + Love. ✌️❤️

Limited tickets remain — grab yours at the link below!

https://www.diffadallas.org/burgers

Purchase your tickets today! https://onecau.se/bb2026

✨ Returning to the board this year: Torie Kunz! ✨

We’re wrapping up our FY27 Board introductions with Torie Kunz, who is returning for her second year on the DIFFA Dallas Board of Trustees! After an impactful first year, Torie continues to deepen her involvement with DIFFA, bringing her creativity, experience, and energy to several important areas of the organization.

Here’s what Torie is bringing to DIFFA this year:

❤️ Torie is returning as Chair of the Wreath Collection for a second consecutive year, while also serving on the Grants Committee and the House of DIFFA Silent Auction Committee.
🎁 Through these roles, Torie contributes to both sides of DIFFA’s work—from creating successful fundraising events to helping support the grantmaking process that provides critical funding to our AIDS Service Organizations.
💼 After beginning her career in New York City’s fintech industry, Torie moved to Dallas two years ago and now manages global merchant partnerships at PayPal, working with retailers to shape their payment processing ecosystems.
🎨 Torie is also the co-founder of Standard Issue Collective, a Dallas-based creative studio, and is preparing to launch Standard Issue Mahjong, an elevated take on traditional Mahjong tiles.

We’re so glad to have Torie bringing her creativity, expertise, and dedication to DIFFA Dallas for another year—and couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up our FY27 Board introductions! ❤️
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Our next returning board member feature is ✨J.R. Shoman! ✨

We’re excited to have returning to the DIFFA Dallas Board of Trustees for FY27! A dedicated supporter of DIFFA, J.R. continues to bring his expertise, connections, and commitment to our mission.

It feels timely to post about J.R., because he is in his second year of co-chairing Burgers & Burgundy, which is happening in less than a month on Oct 1st! 🍔 🍷

Here’s more of what J.R. brings to DIFFA:

🍔 As Co-Chair of Burgers & Burgundy, J.R. is busy helping bring together chefs, businesses, supporters, and friends of DIFFA for one of our signature fundraising events benefiting North Texas AIDS Service Organizations.
❤️ J.R.’s DIFFA journey began when he attended his first House of DIFFA in 2016. He has been a dedicated supporter ever since, eventually joining the Board of Trustees and continuing to find new ways to support DIFFA’s mission.
💼 With more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing, J.R. is a Senior Digital Marketing Consultant and Strategist with LocaliQ, the digital marketing arm of USA TODAY, helping clients build and grow their businesses.
🌎 Born in Mexico City and raised in Texas, J.R. developed an appreciation for travel and global cultures at an early age. He studied abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris at 17 and speaks Spanish, English, and French.
❤️ Inspired by his parents’ commitment to caring for others, J.R. has long valued giving back and considers it an honor to serve alongside his fellow Trustees in support of a mission that means so much to him.

We’re grateful to have J.R. back for another year of dedication to DIFFA Dallas and especially excited to celebrate with him at Burgers and Burgundy! Did we mention it’s on his birthday?! 🎉 🍔 🍷

✨ Returning to the board this year: Stephen Hoyl! ✨

We’re excited to have Stephen returning to the DIFFA Dallas Board of Trustees for FY27! After first getting involved through Style Council, Stephen has continued to take on greater leadership within DIFFA, including leading a successful House of DIFFA Live Auction last year.

Here’s what Stephen brings to DIFFA:

🎤 Stephen is returning as House of DIFFA Live Auction Chair this year and also serves on the Development Committee, helping strengthen DIFFA’s fundraising efforts and build support for our mission.
💼 A Texas Tech University graduate with a degree in finance, Stephen founded his financial planning firm at just 26 years old. Nearly four decades later, the firm has grown to include offices across Texas.
❤️ Family is a big part of Stephen’s life. He’s a twin himself, the father of boy-girl twins, and now a proud grandfather to two little ones.
✈️ In his spare time, Stephen loves to travel, travel, travel and explore whenever he gets the chance.

We’re grateful to have Stephen’s leadership, fundraising support, and enthusiasm back on the DIFFA Dallas Board for another year!

✨ Returning to the DIFFA Dallas Board of Trustees: Sonia Simmons! ✨

We’re excited to have returning to the DIFFA Dallas Board for her second year and stepping into the role of Treasurer for FY27! ❤️

* After first joining DIFFA as a Style Council member and serving her first year as a Trustee last year, Sonia continues to deepen her involvement and leadership within the organization.
* Serving as FY27 Treasurer, Sonia will help provide financial leadership and oversight as DIFFA continues its work supporting our AIDS Service Organizations. 💵
* Sonia is also serving as Chair of the House of DIFFA Preview Party and is a member of the Wreath Collection Committee, helping bring two of DIFFA’s signature events to life.
* A proud Dallas native and SMU graduate, Sonia brings an extensive background in revenue accounting and financial management, with experience at McAfee, Intel, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. In recent years, she has dedicated more of her time to nonprofit and civic organizations. 🏛️
* Another nonprofit Sonia is proud to volunteer with is Smiles Charity, which provides mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans. As the daughter of a Navy veteran, the organization’s mission holds special meaning for her. 💗
* Outside of her nonprofit work, Sonia enjoys golf and traveling the world with her husband. Her commitment to giving back, paired with her financial expertise and love for Dallas, makes her a wonderful addition to DIFFA’s leadership team.

We’re so grateful to have Sonia continuing to grow her impact with DIFFA Dallas! ❤️

✨ Returning to the board in FY27: Gabriella Monte! ✨

We’re delighted to have Gabriella Monte returning to the DIFFA Dallas Board of Trustees! A longtime DIFFA supporter and accomplished hospitality leader, Gabriella brings her experience, creativity, and love of bringing people together to her continued service with DIFFA.

Here’s what Gabriella brings to the board:

• Gabriella is the Vice President of Hotel & Retail Operations at The Village Dallas, where she oversees a dynamic portfolio of hotel, wellness, and retail experiences, including The Drey Hotel and the soon-to-open Terraces at The Drey. 🏨
• A hospitality leader with experience spanning luxury and lifestyle brands across Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, Gabriella is dedicated to creating memorable experiences, building strong teams, and using hospitality to bring people together.
• Gabriella has been actively involved with DIFFA Dallas since joining the Style Council in 2023 and now proudly continues her service on the Board of Trustees. For House of DIFFA, she serves as Jacket Chair and Small Events Chair, championing meaningful partnerships, creativity, and greater impact through DIFFA’s mission. 🧥
• Originally from Buffalo and deeply proud of her Sicilian roots, Gabriella is a wife and mother to her son, Nico. Her family is at the heart of everything she does and inspires her commitment to creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and beautiful community. 💖

We’re so glad to have Gabriella bringing her heart, creativity, and leadership back to DIFFA Dallas for another year! ✨