SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (PRWEB)
April 30, 2020

The African Well Fund (AWF) is excited to announce its 18th annual Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday campaign. Beginning May 1, AWF invites U2 fans from around the world to donate funds in honor of the musician’s 60th birthday. The funds raised will be used to build a new well serving 2500 in Nsiama, a village located in western DRC where there is currently no potable water. AWF hopes to raise $20,000 to build a solar powered well to serve the community.

Since 2003, AWF has joined together with the U2 fan community to celebrate and honor Bono’s birthday by raising funds for clean water and sanitation projects. This year we reached out to that community to collaborate on the theme for the annual fundraiser. The overwhelming favorite, “There is a Light…” was submitted by long-time U2 fan and AWF supporter, Tassoula E. Kokkoris. Kokkoris explains the inspiration behind her submission, “Since its inception, I’ve always contributed to the African Well Fund Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday campaign because the projects chosen always significantly improve the lives in the communities for which they are completed. The added factor of honoring Bono and signing the annual card for his birthday is the icing on the cake. Inspired by the lyric in U2’s ‘Song for Someone,’ I initially submitted the theme as a nod to Bono and the light he brings through his music, humanitarian work, and by extension, African Well Fund. But now, considering what we’re all facing during this pandemic, the lyric has evolved into something much more poignant.”

In a further collaboration with the U2 fan community, AWF reached out to award-winning artist, U2 fan and long time AWF supporter Kelly Eddington to create artwork for the campaign. Eddington created a beautiful original painting inspired by the theme “There is a Light…” Eddington says, “I was delighted and honored to create this painting of Bono for the annual birthday well fundraiser. I’ve painted him so many times over the years that I know his face by heart. I wish him many, many more happy birthdays and I hope people will be inspired to build many, many more wells in his name.”

From May 1 to May 31, fans may donate through the AWF website https://africanwellfund.org/build-a-well-for-bonos-birthday-2020/. As always, all donors are invited to add their name and a message to a birthday card that will be sent to Bono upon completion of the fundraiser. Since 2003, more than $280,000 has been raised in Bono’s honor to fund the construction of clean water and sanitation projects that are benefiting more than 86,000 people in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The African Well Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of funding clean water and sanitation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its founding in 2002, the organization has raised more than $1 million to fund over 30 projects in 15 countries, benefiting more than 350,000 people.

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“My daughter exuberates joy, she is always smiling, connecting with people and will engage them in conversations about what they are wearing, their pets or their shoes.”

LAKEWOOD, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 30, 2020

May 1-10, 2020: International Cri du Chat Syndrome Week

May 5: Cri du Chat Syndrome Day.

The 5p- Society of North America, along with families and support organizations from over 95 countries, are bringing awareness of Cri du Chat Syndrome (CdCS), also known as 5p- Syndrome, a permanent deletion on the “p” arm of the 5th chromosome. The 2020 awareness campaign will showcase individuals with the syndrome throughout our Social Media outlets with short 30 second videos focusing on how an individual with Cri du Chat Syndrome impacts their community and/or a fact card called the “Faces of 5p-” that will give short bios of their loves, strengthens and struggles. Join us in celebrating these unique individuals by raising awareness around the world.

The 5p- Society’s mission is to maximize quality of life of individuals with 5p- and their families. One way to improve the lives of individuals with the syndrome is by creating more programs that bring families together. The 5p- Society encourages families to focus on what the individual with the syndrome CAN DO; SEE the PERSON, not the disability; and to PAY FORWARD and educate others on what they have learned about the syndrome and their loved one.

“What I’ve learned about having a daughter with the syndrome (now 32-years-old) is that she is who she is. She doesn’t know of any other path she was supposed to take. She is on the only path she knows and is comfortable being who she has become,” says Laura Castillo, Executive Director. “My daughter exuberates joy, she is always smiling, connecting with people and will engage them in conversations about what they are wearing, their pets, or their shoes.” She continues, “Currently we are working with Cri du Chat Syndrome organizations around the world to strengthen our community and drive research on the topics that are most relevant: behavior, speech and language and education.”

Mrs. Castillo also informed us that the 5p- Society is currently working with Dr. Andras Spaan from Rockefeller University in New York researching 5p- Syndrome and Infections of the lungs and skin. With the current COVID-19 crisis, they have reached out to our community to immediately study any individual with 5p- Syndrome who is affected by the virus. This will help to see if the gene found on the short arm of the 5th chromosome that causes life threatening inflammation in response to infections of the lungs and skin can also have a possible impact on the severity of the Coronavirus infection. The 5p- Society and the entire 5p- Syndrome community are very appreciative of Dr. Spaan and his team for his time and dedication to this research project.

“I encourage you to take part in a COVID-19 Stay at Home Virtual 5K, post educational posts on social media, and wear your striped socks and your 5p- gear,” says Nick Wallace, President of the 5p- Society. “The only way to stop people from being given antiquated information and for families to not be left unconnected is for us to make our voices heard.” Nick encourages families to be bold, reach out and connect families to one another, especially through social media.

In an ongoing effort to raise awareness, members and supporters are encouraged to participate in events throughout the week.

• 
  Stripy Sock Campaign: Wear striped socks, one long, one short, representing the whole and deleted fifth chromosomes, especially on May 5th. #stripysocks
• Face of 5p- Campaign: We will soon be flooding our Social Media pages with pictures and bios of our children and adults with 5p- during awareness week and beyond. Learn a little more about each of our kiddos and how truly awesome they are.
• Virtual 5k for 5p- to raise awareness and money for programs that benefit the Cri du Chat Syndrome community. A Virtual Walk can be anything you want it to be, a walk, a run, a STAY HOME picnic, or any type of event. Over 50 “Teams” have been created all over the world. #5pminus5k. Some families have postponed their events until they can safely have them in their communities.
• Where in the World is C5? In an effort to encourage worldwide participation, we are asking families to pose for a picture with C5, the mascot of International Cri du Chat Awareness Week (named C5 for Chromosome 5) and share their picture on social media using the #SeeC5 and #criduchatawareness. Looking forward to seeing pictures from around the world and maybe even with a celebrity or two!
• State Proclamations have been applied for and received from several state Governors around the USA.

For more event ideas, please visit https://fivepminus.org/event/awareness-week-events/?event_date=2020-05-01.

About Cri du Chat Syndrome: Identified in 1963 by Jerome Lejuene, a French physician, 2020 marks the 57th year since its discovery. Each year in the United States, approximately 50-60 children are born with 5p- Syndrome. It is characterized at birth by a high-pitched, “cat-like cry” caused by an underdeveloped larynx and weak breath support. Other characteristics include low birth weight, poor muscle tone, microcephaly and potential medical complications. The severity of the disorder varies among individuals and can be considered a spectrum disorder. Symptoms go from mild and unnoticed, which causes a delay in diagnosis, to severe where the individual requires to be cared for 24/7 and will require ongoing support from a team of parents, therapists, medical professionals, educational professionals and extended family members to help the individual achieve his or her maximum potential.

About the 5p- Society: The 5p- Society was founded in 1986. It is a non-profit organization that works to empower families with knowledge about the syndrome, facilitate connections, support research, advocate for improved prognosis and to enrich the lives of individuals affected by Cri du Chat Syndrome and their families.

Visit us on the web at http://www.fivepminus.org, @5pminus, #stripysocks #criduchatawareness, #5pminus5k #CDCS #5pminus #SeeC5 #cdcstrong #Facesof5p-

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ROSEMONT, Ill. (PRWEB)
April 30, 2020

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) announced today that the 2020 AOSSM Annual Meeting, scheduled for July 9-12 in Seattle, has been canceled.

“AOSSM’s priority is the health and safety of our community, including our members, staff, supporters, vendors and volunteers,” said James P. Bradley MD, AOSSM president. “We have been monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning stages, and all along, continued to work hard putting the finishing touches on our event. We remained very hopeful about bringing our community together in July. Unfortunately, it has become clear that in the face of this unprecedented situation, we needed to make the tough decision to cancel.”

The Society will work with registrants directly over the coming weeks. AOSSM’s professional team, in partnership with AOSSM leaders and Education Committee, are in the process of creating a unique, virtual experience packaging together several key elements planned for the 2020 Annual Meeting. Details will be available in the coming weeks via sportsmed.org.

“We recognize the magnitude of this decision for the association and our membership,” said Gregory F. Dummer, AOSSM’s CEO. “The Annual Meeting brings together thousands of passionate professionals and hundreds of exhibitors every year to celebrate the research, science and camaraderie of the orthopaedic surgical sports medicine elite. Our coming together not only galvanizes the profession and its stakeholders, but also provides opportunities for attendees to explore and connect with our host cities. This year, we were especially looking forward to the event taking place in Seattle; however, the well-being of our community, staff and Seattle residents is the number one concern, and that drove our decision-making.”

“Although this is a great disappointment, AOSSM is far from the only organization taking a hard look at its events,” Dr. Bradley said. “We are using this to fuel our planning for the 2021 Annual Meeting in Nashville next July and looking ahead to our 50th Anniversary event in July 2022. We want to ensure both meetings are incredible experiences and serve as opportunities for the profession to regroup and recharge.”

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is the premier global, sports medicine organization representing the interests of orthopaedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and levels. We cultivate evidence-based knowledge, provide extensive educational programming, and promote emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.

Contact: Christina Tomaso, AOSSM Director of Marketing Communications at christina@aossm.org.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (PRWEB)
April 30, 2020

The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), which represents 31 nursing certification boards and over 920,000 board certified LPNs, RNs and advanced practice nurses, today announced that its 2020 Nursing Certification Advocacy Award winner is The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey. This annual ABNS award recognizes employers who go above and beyond in their support of specialty nursing certification for their nursing teams.

“It is very clear that The Valley Hospital is deeply committed to providing safe and reliable high-quality care to their patients and their community and sees specialty nursing certification as a major way to achieve their goals,” said ABNS President and Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing Executive Director Janie Schumaker, MBA, RN, CEN, CPHQ, CENP, FABC. “Valley’s nurse leaders serve as certification champions and role models for their respective specialties by being certified themselves and encouraging their staff to get board certified.”

ABNS chose The Valley Hospital for its strong organization-wide commitment to nursing certification at all levels, which has led to a 100% certification rate. Magnet-accredited since 2003, Valley also has the most holistic certified nurses of any hospital in the nation.

The many system-wide ways Valley demonstrates a commitment to improving their standard of care through nurse certification include:

•     Robust support for professional development in the areas of continuing education necessary for nurses to acquire and maintain the knowledge required for specialty certification.
•     Providing certified nurses with an annual bonus each Certified Nurses Day, which removes financial barriers for nurses to certify and recertify.
•     Celebrating nurses when they achieve professional milestones such as specialty certification through recognition coordinated by shared governance councils, which further encourages staff to get and stay certified.

“The ABNS board of directors commends The Valley Hospital on their outstanding advocacy and support for certification,” said Schumaker. “Valley is a true role model and we are inspired by their support for specialty nursing certification.”

About ABNS

The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) is a not-for-profit membership organization governed by an elected group of member representatives. With a mission to promote the value of specialty nursing certification, ABNS also serves as a forum for nursing credentialing organizations to connect and dialogue about the specific issues that certified nurses and those seeking certification face.

About The Valley Hospital

The Valley Hospital, a 431-bed, acute care, not-for-profit hospital located in Ridgewood, New Jersey, is part of Valley Health System, which also includes Valley Home Care and Valley Medical Group. Valley is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Gold Seals of Approval from The Joint Commission in 6 clinical areas. Valley is in alliance with the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, and is an academic and clinical affiliate of the Mount Sinai Health System. Key services include cardiology, oncology, women’s and children’s services, emergency care, orthopedics and neurosciences.

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