The DAISY Foundation was founded in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who observed the compassionate care nurses provided during his hospitalization. They created the acronym DAISY for “diseases attacking the immune system,” since Barnes himself suffered from an autoimmune disease. The Barnes family created the DAISY Foundation as a way to express profound gratitude for the nurses who took care of their beloved family member. The program gives other families and healthcare staff a way to recognize nurses for the work they do every day. The DAISY Award is implemented in over 5,000 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing worldwide.