AIDS Services of Dallas holds Founders’ Day event

Commemorating 28 years of service to the community, AIDS Services of Dallas (ASD) holds its annual Founders’ Day Picnic on Friday, June 12. Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. in the courtyard of Revlon Apartments, ASD’s second facility, at 720 North Lancaster Road in North Oak Cliff.
The event honors the memory of ASD’s founders, Daryl Moore and Michael Merdian, who started the organization in 1987, and Phil Morrow, its second board president, for their outstanding service to persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The M•A•C AIDS Fund will be presented with the Daryl Moore Memorial Award.
Begun in 1989, this tribute was authorized by ASD’s board to memorialize Daryl Moore, who was co-founder of the PWA Coalition of Dallas, Inc. and its first board president. Darryl passed away on August 10, 1988.
The Deason Foundation and Family will receive the Phil Morrow Memorial Award.
This tribute began in 1990 to memorialize Phil Morrow, who was board chair of ASD from Feb. 8, 1989 until he passed away on May 11, 1990. The vision of these men and their leadership brought reality to a dream of providing housing and essential services to people living with AIDS and which gave birth to ASD’s mission as it remains today.
“We believe that it is fitting on our 28th anniversary to honor the Deasons and The M•A•C AIDS Fund whose generous contributions are an important part of ASD’s history. Their history of support for people living with HIV and AIDS gives us pause to honor the memory of our founders,” said Don Maison, president and CEO.
ASD will also award the Michael R. Merdian Memorial Award to one of its residents in recognition of extraordinary service to the community performed within the last year.
AIDS Services of Dallas provides housing and supportive services to low income and homeless men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.