Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas presents an award of excellence to Franciszka Staszewski (2nd left), president of the International Polish Nurses Association. Founded in 1998 and with over 491 members, the Association does volunteer work at health care fairs in neighborhoods throughout Chicago, helps at senior day care centers, and encourages education classes, disease prevention and health promotion programs. The association also helps nurses from Poland become U.S. certified. Nurses of hospitals across Cook County were recognized in a reception in Pappas’ office in honor of National Nurses Week. From left: Urszula Bujanowicz, Franciszka Staszewski, Treasurer Pappas and Maria Wachowicz.