The OMS Foundation Alliance celebrated its 28th year with good times and high-impact fundraising in New Orleans, La., raising more than $16,000 for the Foundation’s Global Initiative for Volunteerism and Education (GIVE).
With financial support from OMSNIC, the Alliance also welcomed two resident families to the AAOMS community, hosting a pair of Norma L. Kelly Resident Spouse Scholarship winners. Both were greeted as guests of honor at the Alliance’s daily Health Walks along the Mississippi River, networking breakfasts, and its Luncheon and FUNraiser for GIVE.
Speaking to a capacity crowd of OMSs, residents, families, friends and corporate supporters at the Sept. 15 luncheon, Adam Abel, DMD, MD, captivated with stories from his experience as a humanitarian healthcare volunteer in Bangladesh. He concluded with a sincere thank-you to the Alliance, which helped cover his travel expenses through a $2,500 GIVE stipend. Also featured was retired New Orleans meteorologist Bob Breck, who deftly combined education, entertainment and real-life experiences in his presentation, Hurricanes Never Retire.
Thanks to generous gifts from Canfield Inc., OMSNIC, AAOMS, NOLA Health Walk registrants and Luncheon attendees, the Alliance funded six future GIVE stipends in 2022. With leadership from Chair Stacy Erickson, this year’s Alliance Committee included Vice Chair Olga Schwartz, Past Chair Ellyn Hutton, Kos Lugakingira and Page Rollert.
Your donations to GIVE support travel stipends for OMS residents serving with approved international humanitarian healthcare teams. Learn more and donate at OMSFoundation.org/GIVE.