STERLING REPUTATION | Kevin Gardner, from left, Jon Chester and Gilberto Castillo of Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service regularly host ‘SNL @ Daire Center,’ a weekend meal program for AIN clients.
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2012 Bloomin’ Ball
Saturday, May 5 at 6 p.m.
Hilton Anatole Hotel
2201 Stemmons Freeway
Tickets: $125
BloominBall.org
214-943-4444
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Andy Smith, First United Methodist Church Dallas and Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service will receive 2012 Crystal Hope Awards at the Bloomin’ Ball on Saturday, May 5.
Smith is director of corporate philanthropy at Texas Instruments, the presenting sponsor for this year’s Bloomin’ Ball, an annual fundraiser benefiting AIDS Intefaith Network. Smith has been a board member for AIN for eight years and served as chair for three. He also is a board member for the Center for Nonprofit Management, the Dallas Coalition for HIV/AIDS Services, Senior Source and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. He has committee positions with EducateDallas, United Way Worldwide Global Corporate Leadership Advisory Council, and the Museum of Nature and Science’s Corporate Council.
“He has maintained years of commitment to AIDS Interfaith,” said AIN Executive Director Steven Pace. “He’s key to our relationship with Texas
Instructments. The resume goes on for pages and pages. He uses his professional skills and abilities in every way you can name.”
First United Methodist Church Dallas has had an active AIDS ministry for 23 years and has worked with AIN since 1989.
“So many people connected with AIDS Interfaith have come from that church including a board member with the longest tenure,” Pace said. “They’ve supported us in so many ways. They have a huge commitment to social justice and caring for the poor.”
He said the service has gone beyond just the one agency but extends to the supper club at AIDS Services of Dallas as well.
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service has been an active supporter of AIN for more than 10 years including its fundraising, volunteerism and regular hosting of “SNL @ Daire Center,” the weekend meal program for clients. Partners Jon Chester and Gilbert Castillo founded Sterling on the principles that every client is a partner and that the company will only be successful if the client is successful.
“John and Gilbert have given years of service to AIN,” Pace said. “They’ve served on committees, given money, offered their professional skills and knowledge, no matter what we’ve needed.”
They have also chaired the Great Gatsby, a fundraising event for AIN, for several years.
He said they have a commitment to serving those with HIV/AIDS and to prevention.
AIN was founded in 1986 by clergy and pastoral and lay counselors to provide spiritual and emotional support services to persons living with HIV/AIDS. In 1991, it expanded its services to reach traditionally underserved populations. In 1999, it absorbed some of the key programs of Oak Lawn Community Services.
Today, AIN provides 10 different client services and HIV/AIDS prevention programs that serve 2,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, and makes more than 10,000 contacts with other at-risk individuals in targeted communities.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 4, 2012.