KALAMAZOO, Mich. — They are part Superman, part Wonder Woman.

They are the nurses of Borgess Health, also affectionately described as the “superheroes who don’t wear capes.” The eighth annual Friends of Borgess Nursing (FoBN) celebration will recognize the many nurses who do heroic deeds every day during two upcoming events that are designed to continue nurses’ healing mission through support of a special endowment fund.

The FoBN Silent Auction is open to the public, and will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, March 31, in the Borgess Medical Center Cafeteria. At the auction, bidding will take place on numerous gift baskets containing several valuable gifts and gift certificates from area businesses. The FoBN Silent Auction is organized by the Borgess Professional Nurse Council.

The second and main FoBN event is the awards reception. “Honoring the Superheroes Who Don’t Wear Capes” will be held at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 22, in the Lawrence Education Center Auditorium at Borgess Medical Center. Miller Johnson, Attorneys and Counselors, will again be the event’s Platinum Sponsor. The awards ceremony will honor recipients of the Rising Star Award, Excellence in Clinical Practice Awards, Nursing Leadership Awards, Sisters of St. Joseph Legacy Award, and Friends of Borgess Nursing Certification grants.

The reception will also pay tribute to the 2014 recipient of the Borgess Lamplighter Award, honoring those who are dedicated to supporting nurses at Borgess. Reservations for the awards reception are $40 per person if made by May 1 and online at borgessfoundation.org/fobn. Reservations made after May 1, or by mail or in person, are $50. The deadline for all reservations is May 15.

Funds raised through the auction and reception sponsorships will support the FoBN Endowment Fund. The funds will be used to continue recognizing nursing excellence at Borgess and to support future nursing education and scholarship. Since the first FoBN awards dinner in 2007, more than $270,000 has been raised for the endowment fund, which has recognized 92 Borgess nurses and community advocates with awards and scholarships.

“The Friends of Borgess Nursing Endowment Fund supports nursing education, research and certification that enable our nurses to enhance and redefine their critical role within health care,” said Tony McDonnell, Chief Development Officer, Borgess Foundation. “Our nominees and recipients, along with all Borgess Health nurses, are highly instrumental in guiding our mission commitment to provide holistic, spiritually centered care. We congratulate the nominees and recipients for aspiring to, and achieving, success in their professional and personal endeavors. They are, indeed, super!”

For information on the FoBN Silent Auction, contact Nancy Mora at 269-226-4835 or email nancymora@borgess.com. For information on reservations for the FoBN awards reception, contact the Borgess Foundation at 269-226-8100 or visit borgessfoundation.org/fobn.