Quapaw, Okla. – It was a record-shattering night—for the second year in a row—as the 11th Annual Freeman Nursing Gala raised $155,000 for the Freeman Nursing Education Fund.

Last year’s gala raised a then-record $150,000. Since 2016, $869,000 has been raised to improve Freeman nurses’ professional development.

“[The gala] is something our nurses look forward to every year,” said Jeanee Kennedy, Freeman’s Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. “It’s an opportunity for them to let their hair down and celebrate. They do so much for our patients and our community, and it’s a time for all of us to call those things out.”

A record 550 attendees, the largest ever, sold out the celebration hosted by Downstream Casino and Resort. This year’s theme was a fun one: “Unmasking the Heart of Nursing.” Highlights included presentations for outstanding nursing awards, a pasta bar and dancing. Entertainment was provided by Andy Buckley, who played fictional Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company CEO David Wallace on the NBC hit show “The Office.”

Freeman’s Nursing Education Fund provides financial assistance to eligible Freeman nurses who want to further their nursing education by advancing a degree, pursuing a specialty certification, undertaking a healthcare project or attending healthcare conferences.

“It touches our heart to be able to do this. It takes a very special person to be a nurse; they have a servant’s heart,“ said Brandy Miller-Turner, Freeman’s System Director of Foundation
and Community Engagement. “We want to do everything we can at Freeman to promote professional development and invest directly into our employees.”

Winners of the Outstanding Nurse of the Year awards were:
• Ambulatory Care Nurse – Jason Mangan
• Non-Traditional Nurse – Olivia Bradford
• Critical Care Nurse – Ashley Zimmerman
• Medical-Surgical Nurse – Riley Williams
• Specialty Care Nurse – Kelley Meyer
• Advanced Practice Nurse – Symantha Stevens