NEW YORK--DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS has named Felecia Webb as their new Executive Director. Webb will be succeeding David Sheppard who retired after seventeen years of service. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Webb has worked for the Ralph Lauren Corporation since 2000, most recently serving as Senior Director, Design & Product development. She is also the founding member of the Polo Volunteer Council that encourages some 2,000 Ralph Lauren employees globally to participate in initiatives to benefit their local community.
"We are thrilled to have Felecia join us as Executive Director," says Interior Design Editor-In-Chief and DIFFA Chairman of the Board Cindy Allen. "She brings a plethora of experience, contacts and passion for the cause to the organization. While we were sad to see David Sheppard depart, we look forward to a new chapter of DIFFA with Felecia."
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 more than $40 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide. For more than 28 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.
"It is a true honor to take over as Executive Director of DIFFA," says Webb. "To be a part of an organization that works so tirelessly to help so many nonprofit organizations and the people they serve is an amazing opportunity. I look forward to continuing the history of DIFFA and evolving the organization even further."
Prior to her time at Ralph Lauren, Webb worked at Donna Karan New York, and beyond her career in design, Felecia has consistently shown a passion for helping others. A graduate of NYU with a Master's Degree in Nonprofit Management, Public Policy and Administration, she is a founding board member of the Westchester Chapter of Girls, Inc.; serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Material for the Arts and an Alum of Coro-Leadership New York. While at Donna Karan she also helped to develop the "Super Saturday" fundraising event.
Webb's appointment comes just before DIFFA will launch its 16th annual DINING BY DESIGN tour with 4-days of events running concurrently with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94, 12th Ave. at 55th Street in New York City on Thursday, March 21 through Sunday, March 24. Details of the event will be released shortly and tickets are available at www.diffa.org.
