A number of Utahns and organizations were honored Friday evening at the People with AIDS Coalition of Utah's fourth annual community awards banquet at the Salt Lake Hilton Hotel.
Don R. Austin, a clinical social worker in private practice, was presented the Kristen Ries Professional Award, named after the director of the AIDS Clinic at the University of Utah and professor of internal medicine. Austin has been involved in HIV/AIDS work since 1987, including service as the first chairman of the HIV Coordination of Care Council and Consortium Services.The Utah AIDS Foundation, recipient of the Organization Red Ribbon Award, was honored for "dedicated (efforts) in preventing the spread of HIV and ensuring compassionate services to those impacted by HIV/AIDS." The foun-dation's client service department provides support services by licensed professionals as well as a variety of volunteer-based in-home services for individuals living with and impacted by the disease.
Carolyn Jones, who has provided service at Utah AIDS Foundation and other organizations, was presented the Volunteer Red Ribbon Award. She was co-founder of the Adoption Identity Utah program. At the Utah foundation she delivered meals, worked in the food bank, provided respite care to clients at home and has been a volunteer for the coalition and the Community Nursing Services Hospice program.
Sen. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake, the recipient of a Political/Social Policy Award, was cited for "dedicated public service" in legislative and other arenas.
"Until Senator Suazo was involved, people with terminal illnesses could not sell their life insurance policies here. This legislation has benefited many people," coalition officials said.
Suazo has been honored with a number of awards, including the Youth Service Award in 1992 from the Salt Lake Area Gang Project.
Brook Heart-Song received the Individual Red Ribbon Award. She is the owner and operator of Heart-Song Enterprises, a bookkeeping and tax service. She is past chairman of the People with AIDS Coalition and is now a volunteer bookkeeper for the organization. Heart-Song has been a volunteer and board member for Utah Stonewall Center and is a board member for Kindly Gifts.
Smart Bodies, a health fitness studio owned and operated by Jacquie Zacher-Becker, was chosen for the Business Red Ribbon Award. The studio has provided aerobic workouts and fitness classes for the Utah coalition's recreation program for more than a year.