Compass One Healthcare (Compass One), powered by Morrison Healthcare, Crothall Healthcare, and CCL Hospitality Group, have teamed up this year to promote “Socktober,” an annual campaign during which socks are collected to donate to local charities and shelters.
Compass One started the annual campaign in 2021 and has since helped collect more than 310,000 socks.
This year, Compass One will be joined by representatives from the American Nurses Association (ANA)’s Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ program, the American Nurses Foundation and RefugeeOne at the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in Chicago. It’s the largest nursing conference in the U.S. taking place from October 12-14, during which attendees are encouraged to donate winter socks.
“Each pair of donated socks is a small ray of hope for those in need,” said Bobby Kutteh, Compass One’s chief executive officer. “This year we are elevating our efforts by inviting our partners at ANA, the Foundation as well as ANCC conference attendees to join us in collecting more socks to create an even bigger impact in the communities we so proudly serve.”
The nurses at the conference will be cheered on by professional Chicago sports teams for their efforts to support RefugeeOne. Chicago’s professional women’s soccer club, the Chicago Red Stars’ mascot, Supernova, will make a special appearance Thursday, October 12, to energize the crowd and encourage warm winter sock donations. To show the Red Stars’ gratitude for nurses and all that they do, the Red Stars are offering discounted tickets to all conference attendees to their game Sunday, October 15. The Red Stars, Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Bears showed their support by donating autographed items and tickets to the Bulls’ October 12 preseason basketball game, which will be raffled off to nurses who donate socks.
“Many of our refugee friends are escaping violence, persecution, and war and arrive in the U.S. with little to no personal possessions. The first thing that RefugeeOne provides them with are basic necessities like clothing, so receiving an influx of warm winter socks will be an incredible help to us,” said Melineh Kano, RefugeeOne’s Executive Director. “Receiving new clothes is a symbol to these brave men, women, and children of their new lives here in the U.S. and provides them with the comfort of knowing they will be supported during their journey.”
Since 1982, RefugeeOne has welcomed more than 20,500 refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, providing refugees with furnished apartments, English classes, job search support, mental health care, youth programming, and mentors to help them adjust to life in the U.S.
Incorporating the Socktober collection efforts into the ANCC conferences will create a collaborative opportunity to tap into the generosity of the more than 11,000 attendees and boost the number of socks collected.
“Every year we support local organizations in our host cities. We are proud to join Compass One on this incredible Socktober campaign benefiting RefugeeOne,” said Kate Judge, Executive Director of the American Nurses Foundation, which is the research, education, and charitable affiliate of ANA. “We are looking forward to the continued excitement around the donation opportunity at our conferences and are excited to see Compass One beat their goal for 150,000 socks donated over the course of the month.”
Compass One and ANA have long been partners through the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ program in finding solutions to connect and engage nurses, employers, and organizations around improving health in six main areas: mental health, physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life, and safety. Through Compass One’s data-driven technology solutions and enhanced professional support services, nurses are able to focus more of the time on the clinical care that keeps them practicing at the top of their license.
About Compass One Healthcare
Compass One Healthcare’s branded sectors, Morrison Healthcare (food and nutrition services), Crothall Healthcare (support services), and CCL Hospitality Group (senior and community living support services), provide exceptional expertise in 45 states and 2,400 hospital and health systems. With more than 55,000 engaged team members, Compass One focuses on delivering quality, value, and exceptional experiences through its specialized services.
About American Nurses Foundation
American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), with the mission to transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing. The Foundation supports research, education, and scholarships, which improve health, wellness, and patient care. For more information visit www.nursingworld.org/foundation
About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 5 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org
About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.
About RefugeeOne
RefugeeOne is a pivotal local answer to critical global needs. Since 1982, RefugeeOne has welcomed 20,500 refugees from every major world crisis including Rwandans fleeing genocide, the Lost Boys of Sudan, Syrians displaced by civil war, Afghans who escaped the Taliban, and now Ukrainian families fleeing Russia’s invasion. Today RefugeeOne is the largest resettlement agency in Chicago. We provide comprehensive services including housing, English language training, Wellness support, employment, dental care, youth programs, and immigration assistance that help families to become self-reliant in their new home.
About Chicago Red Stars
Established in 2007, the Red Stars were a founding member of the former Women’s Professional Soccer League and would later become one of the original eight teams to form the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013. The Red Stars have made the playoffs in seven consecutive years from 2015-2021, appearing in the NWSL Championship in 2019 and 2021, as well as appearing in the NWSL’s Challenge Cup Final in 2020.
