American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has won the Award of Excellence in the 2006 Associations Advance America Awards program, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Washington, DC.

AIAA received the award for its Members Helping Members program. In response to the devastating Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the AIAA Members Helping Members (MHM) program was launched to provide relief to teachers in the form of classroom grants. MHM grants have assisted over 350 teachers and 32,000 students. AIAA members’ donations provided $100,000 of assistance for teachers to purchase calculators, hand-held GPS units, mini-weather stations, science and math textbooks, software, laboratory supplies, science journals, and many other materials for use by their students.

This program is now in the running to receive a Summit Award, ASAE’s top recognition for association programs, to be presented in ceremonies at ASAE’s 7th Annual Summit Awards Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on September 20, 2006.

Now in its 16th year, the prestigious Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward—with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards-setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship and community service.

“AIAA’s program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society,” remarked 2005-2006 Associations Advance America Committee Chair Bill Bergman, CAE, president of William S. Bergman Associates.

For more information on the Members Helping Members program contact Lisa Bacon at 703/264-7527.

Headquartered in suburban Washington, DC, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government and focuses on emerging technologies in aviation, space and defense. For more information visit www.aiaa.org .