American Nurses Credentialing Center Kicks Off Conference in Chicago with Giving Campaign to Support RefugeeOne and the American Nurses Foundation
CONTACT:
Shannon McClendon
Keziah Proctor
CHICAGO, IL – Today, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) kicks off the annual ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in Chicago with the launch of a giving campaign to support RefugeeOne and the American Nurses Foundation. ANCC seeks to raise $80,000 through donations given during the conference that will be shared between RefugeeOne, the largest refugee resettlement agency in Illinois, and the American Nurses Foundation (the Foundation), committed to advancing the nursing profession.
ANCC invites the local community of Chicago to join the 13,000 nurses attending the conference in a text-to-give campaign challenge that begins during the conference and remains open through October 31, 2023.
RefugeeOne welcomes hundreds of refugees through the U.S. State Department Refugee Admissions Program. In addition to equipping refugees with skills needed to survive, RefugeeOne provides coordinated services to empower refugees to build the foundation for a flourishing life in the U.S. This includes providing trauma-informed health and mental health care.
Nursing is a profession committed to both the welfare of the sick, injured and vulnerable in society. The Code of Ethics for Nurses obligates all nurses to protect and preserve the human rights of vulnerable groups including refugees, which aligns with RefugeeOne’s mission. The American Nurses Foundation strives to provide nurses the financial resources they need to research, test and amplify solutions that address pressing issues in health care and communities nationwide.
“ANCC’s priority is always the health and well-being of all our global communities. We are proud to partner with RefugeeOne’s mission to support refugees from major world crises. We regularly support local organizations in our host cities that are working to advance public health. Resettlement is a long and difficult process so it’s important for refugees in Illinois and worldwide to have this critical support from RefugeeOne,” said Rebecca Graystone, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC, ANCC Senior Vice President of Accreditation and Organizational Credentialing. “Nurses are committed to supporting and protecting human rights and as the single largest group of healthcare professionals in the U.S., nurses are able to positively impact health equity efforts. We are pleased to support RefugeeOne and the American Nurses Foundation to further the urgent work for refugees and for nurses.”
All conference attendees and the public can get involved by texting the following to “20222”:
- Text RN to donate $10
- Text CARE to donate $25
- Text TOGETHER to donate $50
“Refugees resettled by RefugeeOne are escaping violence, persecution, and war and arrive to Chicago with little to no personal possessions. Funds raised through this campaign will be used to provide a warm welcome to newly arriving Refugee families,” said Melineh Kano, RefugeeOne’s Executive Director. “We thank ANCC for choosing RefugeeOne as this year’s charitable partner of the conference. We are grateful to the nurses and staff who generously donate to support our work.”
Past giving campaigns initiated by ANCC have raised more than $50,000 to support local charities in conference host cities. Donations to RefugeeOne will help provide housing, employment, wellness and resettlement support for refugees arriving in Chicago fleeing war, violence and terror. Funds raised for the Foundation will support Health and Well-Being programs for nurses and the communities that they serve.
This year, the Humana Foundation, CeraVe, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Fresenius Kabi USA are participating as matching partners for the text-to-give campaign, and their combined contributions will match donations up to $40,000. Corporate partners are invited to join in leading the challenge with a pledge of $10,000 to match every $1 donated up to that amount. Interested companies or individuals can learn more by emailing givetonursing@ana.org.
RefugeeOne is a pivotal local answer to critical global needs. Since 1982, RefugeeOne has welcomed 20,500 refugees from every major world crisis including Rwandans fleeing genocide, the Lost Boys of Sudan, Syrians displaced by civil war, Afghans who escaped the Taliban, and now Ukrainian families fleeing Russia’s invasion. Today RefugeeOne is the largest resettlement agency in Chicago. We provide comprehensive services including housing, English language training, Wellness support, employment, dental care, youth programs, and immigration assistance that help families to become self-reliant in their new home.
The AMERICAN NURSES FOUNDATION works to transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing. The Foundation supports research, education, and scholarships, which improve health, wellness, and patient care.
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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and healthcare globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes healthcare organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits healthcare organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.