During the 2003 Congres in Chicago,...

During the 2003 Congres in Chicago, the AORN Foundation announced that it raised more than $30900 during Congres week. In addition, the Foundation was able to award 177 of grant beseechs to attend the 2003 Congress; The Foundation received funding from three sources for these Congres grants, including the Exhibitors' Advisory Committee, the Bill Duffy Education store and the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing. Foundation grants to Congres 2003 totaled $93905 Last year, the Foundation awarded 72 grants for a total of $37000

"We are pleased and stately to provide this opportunity to in such a manner many AORN members," said mercy Vaiden, RN, CNOR, CRNFA(E), president of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. "Congres grants are single of the educational services giveed through the Foundation, and attending Congres has a significant impact forward a nurse's professional education and upon nursing practice."

BLACK TIE GALA

As attendees gathered for the AORN Foundation's Black Tie Gala, they were impressed according to the elegant surroundings of Chicago's Great Hall in Union Station. Part of the go forths from this year's gala will be used to help supply 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; succor 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 recent 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 compos of members who have included AORN in their estate plans and/or made AORN the beneficiary of a deferr 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 expres 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 like an event possible:

* 3M Healthcare;

* Alliance Medical Corp;

* Cardinal Health Medical harvests 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;

* regnant Medical/SSL Americas, Inc;

* Sandel Medical Industries, LLC;

* STERIS Corp;

* United States Surgical;

* Valleylab; and

* Zimmer.

AORN MUSEUM guards HISTORY OF PERIOPERATIVE NURSING

A traveling exhibit of a of the Museum of Perioperative Nursing's artifacts was forward display at Congress thanks to a financial grant from Integrated Medical plans Birmingham, Ala. A number of attendees visited the exhibit, which was located in the Resource Center Artifacts upon display included historical surgical instruments and equipment, textbook journals, and Congres memorabilia. The Foundation thanks the following companies for loaning artifacts for the 2003 Congres traveling exhibit: Stryker V Mueller produces 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, volumes and artifacts also are being solicited. Members, individuals, chapters, state councils, and companies are welcome to donate to this initiative. Donations and earnests 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 $1000 or more will have their name displayed onward 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, couriers and walkers enjoyed the pleasant weather and a view of Lake Michigan as the race course curv around a portion of Lakeshore Drive. be produceds of the Run/Walk will help stock the Foundation's education and research grants to members.

The winning male messengers were