CARD, Dillon

Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow, Winslow, Arizona Dillon Card February 09, 1990 - January 10, 2014 In the time that Dillon Card spent on earth he touched the lives of many by providing AIDS awareness to thousands of people in the United States and changing the lives of those people for the better. Dillon Card was born February 9, 1990 to Mary and Chris Card. Shortly after his birth both Dillon and his mother Mary were diagnosed positive with AIDS. Mary passed away when Dillon was just two years old. Chris Card later married Linda Card and the two have been raising their children in Winslow, Arizona. Throughout his childhood, Dillon struggled to feel a sense of normalcy. Being diagnosed with AIDS at a young age Dillon was challenged with friendships and had to try to fit into a society that had preconceived perceptions of people that had AIDS. At age four Dillon became actively involved in attending a camp in Prescott, Arizona for families that had been infected and affected by the AIDS virus. This was the first time that Dillon felt that he fit in because everyone understood what he was going through. Dillon attended this camp for many summers. Dillon also attended Camp Heartland through Arizona AIDS Project, Body Positive, and Phoenix Children’s Hospital. At age 14, Dillon began making tours with Camp Heartland’s Journey of Hope. He traveled throughout Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada for AIDS awareness and prevention talks. Over a two-year period, Dillon helped teach thousands of people about the importance of AIDS awareness, abstinence, and how to have safe sex. Dillon was always the most charismatic person in the group. In 2006, Dillon was awarded the Children’s Miracle Network Champion. This prestigious award allowed Dillon and his family the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC as well as Disney World in Florida. Dillon had the opportunity to meet President George W. Bush and have private parties with U.S. Delegates, KC and the Sunshine Band, Walmart CEOs from the U.S. and Canada, and the Wiggles. In addition to the thousands Dillon reached on his tours with the Journey of Hope, Dillon became a spokesperson to help raise money for the AIDS and HIV awareness. Dillon spoke to more than 800 mortgage brokers and had the opportunity to introduce baseball Hall of Famer, Paul Mollitor at an event. Later Dillon became a member of Maricopa Integrated Health’s Community Advisory Board. He advocated for the special needs of youth living with AIDS including treatment and helped change the stigma against youth with AIDS conducting presentations as well as appearing in television newscasts on AIDS awareness to the community. Dillon passed from this life on January 10, 2014. Although Dillon is not physically with us, his presence remains among us through the many lives Dillon touched through his efforts for AIDS awareness. Dillon is survived by his father Chris Card, mother Linda Card, and siblings Sara Card, Seth Jennings-Card, and Collin Card. Memorial Service, Sat. January 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM at The Hubble Building.