Scholarships
Congratulations to the 2019 Lisa Ross Scholarship recipients who attended the 2019 AABC Birth Institute in Orlando, FL. The recipients were Ashley Homan, RN, SNM from Breath of Life (Largo, FL); Kimberly Johansen, CNM, MSN, ARNP of Empowered Pregnancy (Kirkland, WA); Sunny Soroosh, RN, SNM of Holy Family Birth Center (Weslaco, TX); and Rebekah Shirrell, RN, SNM from Tree of Life Family Birth Center (Jeffersonville, IN). With a Lisa Ross Scholarship, these individuals attended the AABC Birth Institute and the Gala to Grow Birth Centers to further develop their knowledge, network with like-minded folks, and help them to build on their birth center dreams and goals.
“The Birth Institute helped me to network and find support people that I can ask for guidance and advice. ”
After attending, Sunny shared that the AABC Birth Institute “helped me to network and find support people that I can ask for guidance and advice. These people can help me grow and flourish as a Nurse-Midwife in a birth center setting.” Rebekah also found the Birth Institute to be a great resource and said that “having the opportunity to network and learn from those that have such experience in the birth setting was invaluable to me. I am so thankful for the information and contacts gleaned while at the AABC conference.”
“I am so thankful for the information and contacts gleaned while at the AABC conference.”
The AABC Foundation’s next scholarship opportunity will be the Amy Ellen Polk Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship provides tuition to attend a How to Start a Birth Center Workshop. Applications will be accepted in early 2020. Visit the Amy Polk Scholarship page to learn more.
Gala to Grow Birth Centers
The Gala to Grow Birth Centers: Fly Me to the Moon was an astronomical success! The evening was filled with good food, great company, and hearty laughs. The evening’s activities included a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, live auction, Heads & Tails game, and more! Many thanks to MC, auctioneer, and comedian Miss Shannan for ensuring a fun and lively evening. A sincere thank you to those who attended and filled the room with such amazing energy in the support of birth centers. The Gala to Grow Birth Centers is a significant fundraising event for the AABC Foundation, and we can’t fulfill our mission and goals without your support. Visit the AABCF Facebook Album to see more photos of the event. Photo Credit to Brown Eyed Girl Images.
Research Grants
Are you embarking on a research project related to the birth center model of care? Then consider applying for an AABC Foundation Research Grant. The Foundation offers grant opportunities of up to $5,000 to support research projects on issues related to the birth center model of care. Submit a Letter of Intent by November 5th. Eligible projects will then be invited to submit a full grant application by January 21, 2020. Fun Fact: two of the three research projects presented at the 2019 Birth Institute’s Research Panel received a Research Grant from the AABC Foundation! Learn how to apply for your own Research Grant by clicking here.
Birth Center Grants
Congratulations to Seedling Births LLC of Sulphur Springs, TX who received a Membership Support Grant this summer. Seedling Births opened this year and wanted to become AABC members straight away because they felt it would give them “opportunities for support and education that would otherwise not be available.” The AABC Foundation is glad to be able to help birth centers find opportunities and give themselves the best chance for success!
The AABC Foundation offers two grant opportunities for birth centers seeking financial assistance. The Birth Center Membership Support Grant provides 50% of AABC membership fees. Eligible birth centers include those applying for AABC membership for the first time, as well as those looking to renew but experiencing financial hardship. The Birth Center Accreditation Support Grant assists AABC member birth centers with a portion of the fees for CABC accreditation. Learn more about these grants and apply on AABCFoundation.org.
Board of Trustees
In September, the AABC Foundation welcomed four new members to the Board of Trustees. Elaine Wakeland, CNM, MSN, IBCLC has worked in birth centers in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and now works at the Crockett Hospital Women’s Health Clinic in Lawrenceburg, TN. Adrian Feldhusen, NHCM, CPM is the owner of The Birth Cottage of Milford in New Hampshire, and has just completed the opening of a second birth center in Salem, NH. Rebecca Gorski, RN, BSN, CLS has been a member of the AABC Foundation’s Giving Committee since 2015 and is in the process of completing her MSN degree. Pam Bartlett, RNC, BSN has worked at the Family Beginnings Birth Center in Dayton, OH for more than a decade, and has been a member of the AABC Foundation’s Gala Committee and Development Committee since 2014. We’re grateful for their support and are eager to hear new ideas and take advantage of the experiences that they’ll bring to the board.
In turn, the AABC Foundation would like to thank the trustees that will be ending their terms on the board. Julia Hall, JD has served on the board as the Chair of the Gala Committee, helping to organize and direct our annual Gala to Grow Birth Centers. Maria Pokluda, MA has served as a trustee since 2016. Anjli Hinman, MPH, CNM, FNP has served as the Vice President of the Board of Trustees. The AABC Foundation thanks them for their support and all of the hard work they contributed to the success of the AABC Foundation. We wish them the best in their future endeavors!
A photo of the AABC Foundation Board of Trustees and staff at the 2019 Gala.
Back row, left to right: Christine Haas, Pam Bartlett, Ann Geisler, Brianna Honea Bennett, Luke Bennett, Amy Johnson-Grass, Julia Hall, Adrian Feldhusen, Rebecca Simmons.
Front row, left to right: Linda Baysore, Judy Ruszkowski, Elaine Wakeland, Kate Bauer, Ann Sober.