The AASV Foundation Auction Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all the donors and buyers for your role in the success of the recent AASV Foundation fundraising auctions. As a result of your participation, $67,561 was raised to support Foundation programs! Please take a moment to visit the auction website at http://www.aasv.org/foundation/2009/auctionlist.htm for a listing of the auction donors and buyers, and the selling price of each item.
The AASV Foundation has been busy this past year. In addition to continuing to administer the Veterinary Student Scholarship program and the Howard Dunne and Alex Hogg Memorial Lectures, the Foundation – with the assistance of the AASV Student Recruitment Committee – saw the development of the National Pork Industry Foundation Grants (NPIF). These new grants (six grants of $3300 each) fund mentorship and externship experiences for veterinary students who have an interest in swine medicine but limited opportunity to gain exposure to swine practice.
AASVF travel stipends in the amount of $200 each enabled a record number of veterinary students (more than 140!) to attend the 2009 AASV Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas. In addition, thirteen veterinary students received foundation grants to participate in an externship with an AASV swine practitioner this past year. The AASV summer intern – funded by the foundation – successfully completed a comprehensive literature review which formed the basis for the revision of the swine euthanasia guidelines published by the AASV and National Pork Board. Most recently, the foundation recognized Dr. Phil Gauger as the 2009 Hogg Scholar and recipient of the $10,000 scholarship.
These programs – and others – would not be possible without your generous support. Your support of the Foundation is particularly important in these challenging economic times. As always, the Foundation welcomes suggestions for additional projects worthy of funding.
Once again, the Foundation sincerely appreciates everyone’s support in achieving the Foundation’s mission of "ensuring the future…creating a legacy" for swine veterinarians!