The AORN Foundation celebrates a successful year and announces a new fund-raising campaign during Congress week; Sunday, March 23, to Thursday, March 27, 2003 - AORN Foundation - Association of periOperative Registered Nurses

AORN Journal, June, 2003

During the 2003 Congress in Chicago, the AORN Foundation announced that it raised more than $30,900 during Congress week. In addition, the Foundation was able to award 177 of grant requests to attend the 2003 Congress; The Foundation received funding from three sources for these Congress grants, including the Exhibitors' Advisory Committee, the Bill Duffy Education Fund, and the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing. Foundation grants to Congress 2003 totaled $93,905. Last year, the Foundation awarded 72 grants for a total of $37,000.

"We are pleased and proud to provide this opportunity to so many AORN members," said Ruth Vaiden, RN, CNOR, CRNFA(E), president of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. "Congress grants are one of the educational services offered through the Foundation, and attending Congress has a significant impact on a nurse's professional education and on nursing practice."

BLACK TIE GALA

As attendees gathered for the AORN Foundation's Black Tie Gala, they were impressed by the elegant surroundings of Chicago's Great Hall in Union Station. Part of the proceeds from this year's gala will be used to help fund AORN's 2003 Leadership Conference, which will be held in Denver July 25 to 27. AORN Executive Director Tom Cooper, CAE, recognized Vaiden for providing guidance to the Foundation. "Without Ruth's leadership, I really don't think the Foundation would be where it is today," said Cooper.

More than 60 representatives from seven specialty assemblies attended the Black Tie Gala. The following assemblies were represented: RN First Assistant; Ambulatory Surgery; Leadership; Orthopedics; Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Specialist; Nurses in Business, Industry & Consulting; and Rural/Small Hospital.

During the Black Tie Gala, the Foundation also honored the newest members of the Legacy of Leadership Society. They join the seven charter members recognized last year. The new Legacy of Leadership Society members include Loma D. Blancafor; Paula Graling, RN, MSN, CNOR, and David Graling; Deborah L. Martin; and the Jean M. Reeder Estate.

The Legacy of Leadership Society is composed of members who have included AORN in their estate plans and/or made AORN the beneficiary of a deferred gift. These generous gifts require forward thinking and additional legalities; thus, they are especially appreciated as they signify special commitment to and support of the mission of AORN.

The Gala also was an opportunity for the Foundation to express its appreciation to the many AORN members and industry partners who support it. The AORN Foundation especially would like to thank the Black Tie Gala sponsors, whose support makes such an event possible:

* 3M Healthcare;

* Alliance Medical Corp;

* Cardinal Health Medical Products and Services;

* Certification Board Perioperative Nursing;

* DuPont;

* Encision, Inc;

* Ethicon-Endo-Surgery;

* Ethicon, Inc;

* Getinge;

* Healthpoint;

* Integrated Medical Systems;

* Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc;

* Kimberly-Clark Corp;

* Medline Industries, Inc;

* Mobile Instrument Service;

* Owens & Minor;

* Picis;

* Regent Medical/SSL Americas, Inc;

* Sandel Medical Industries, LLC;

* STERIS Corp;

* United States Surgical;

* Valleylab; and

* Zimmer.

AORN MUSEUM PRESERVES HISTORY OF PERIOPERATIVE NURSING

A traveling exhibit of some of the Museum of Perioperative Nursing's artifacts was on display at Congress thanks to a financial grant from Integrated Medical Systems, Birmingham, Ala. A number of attendees visited the exhibit, which was located in the Resource Center. Artifacts on display included historical surgical instruments and equipment, textbooks, journals, and Congress memorabilia. The Foundation thanks the following companies for loaning artifacts for the 2003 Congress traveling exhibit: Stryker, V Mueller Products and Services, Getinge, and Scanlan International.

The AORN Foundation continues to solicit financial support for the Museum of Perioperative Nursing, which will be located at AORN Headquarters in Denver. Donations of nursing materials, books, and artifacts also are being solicited. Members, individuals, chapters, state councils, and companies are welcome to donate to this initiative. Donations and pledges can be sent to the AORN Foundation at 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231. Any individual, chapter, state council, or company making a contribution of $1,000 or more will have their name displayed on a plaque at the museum at AORN Headquarters. Anyone wishing to donate artifacts should contact the AORN library at Headquarters at (800) 755-2676 x 314.

SIXTH ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK

More than 200 die-hard athletes rose before dawn for the Foundation's annual 5K Run/Walk. Starting at 6:15 AM, runners and walkers enjoyed the pleasant weather and a view of Lake Michigan as the race course curved around a portion of Lakeshore Drive. Proceeds of the Run/Walk will help fund the Foundation's education and research grants to members.

The winning male runners were

* Richard Baker, HCA Corp, first place (time 19:11);