Steven Pace receives Lifetime Achievement Award from AIN board

From Staff Reports

Dallas City Councilman Omar Narvaez presented Access and Information Network (AIN) CEO Steven Pace with a special recognition certificate recently at the 12th annual Bloomin’ Ball. Bloomin’ Ball is AIN’s largest annual fundraiser, and this year’s event was held June 2.

The certificate says, in part, “We celebrate a life well lived, a role model citizen and an ambassador contributing to the vision of Dallas to be a diverse, vibrant and progressive city. Steven Pace has worked passionately to improve the vitality and quality of life for not only those citizens of Dallas in need, but for all the citizens of Dallas he has touched with his life of committed and devoted service to humanity.”

Also at the event, the AIN Board of Trustees presented Pace with the first annual Steven Pace Lifetime Achievement Award. In the future, that award will be presented to outstanding individuals to honor their service to people affected by HIV and other life-altering ailments, an AIN spokesperson said.

Formerly known as AIDS Interfaith Network, AIN was created by local LGBT clergy in 1986 to support those living with HIV and to educate the faith community about HIV to secure a more compassionate response to those affected and rapidly dying. The agency quickly realized people needed practical assistance, and that HIV education was paramount to helping stop the spread of this new disease.

AIN started organizing support and volunteer programs and after incorporating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, began adding outreach, HIV education, health education, HIV prevention and client advocacy programs. A transportation program, the Daire Center Nutrition Program and medical and non-medical case management programs, along with a mobile health care unit and outreach to underserved communities were all added through the years.