Video Transcript:

INTRODUCTION. The American Academy of Nursing is excited to announce the renaming of its annual fund to The Rheba de Tornyay Development Fund in honor of its first president and Living Legend Rheba de Tornyay.

RHEBA DE TORNYAY. The people who are elected into the American Academy of Nursing today were a still a great honor and I’m sure feel just as excited as we did but I must bare in mind that its also a great responsibility and that is that we are a small group who are charged with setting the course for a large and essential profession.

Well, the Rheba de Tornyay fund—and I’m very very pleased to have it named after me—will help the public understand the importance of nursing today. And, that is partly public relations and it is also partly really telling our story and that always takes a certain amount of money.

It is very important that the fellows support the Academy with their gifts. One is a very simple answer and that is that when you go out looking for money you–you want to see whether the members themselves have contributed. In other words, are these the things that they hold as a priority within their own budget rather than someone else giving to them?

And, I think now the maturity of the Academy thrills me. And, I think the fact that they will not only honor me but I hope that my beliefs in the Academy will translate to their fundraising for this.

CLOSING. "The Academy is eternally grateful for Rheba’s lifelong contributions in promoting research, training, and services for the health aging of adults and we could think of no better way to honor her and her legacy than renaming our annual fund in her honor.” Cheryl Sullivan, CEO of the Academy.

If you would like more information about the Rheba de Tornyay Development Fund or to donate, please visit AAN online www.aannet.org.