The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) is building tomorrow's hotel industry- and the talent to fuel it.  In our increasingly complex business, research and education are crucial to ensuring the lodging industry continues to thrive. 

Created by a group of forward thinking hoteliers in 1953 as the charitable, not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the Foundation initially focused on providing scholarships to a small group of promising hospitality students.  Over the past half-century, the vision has expanded and the Foundation has taken on a much greater mandate: ensuring a strong and viable future for the entire lodging industry. 

To date, we have distributed approximately $14 million, and in 2009, we expended almost $1.2 million.  These funds are awarded in the way of scholarships and research grants, as well as invested in key programs, such as workforce development and school-to-career, that directly affect the long term goals and success of the hospitality industry.

The Foundation relies solely on contributions from generous individuals and companies who want to give back to the hotel industry and ensure a successful future.  We hold events and fundraisers throughout the year to garner interest and support in our efforts, and we encourage you to peruse our Website to see all the different avenues through which we support the industry.  While we have accomplished a lot, there is still more to do and your contribution makes a huge impact. For more information on making a donation, click here.

 AH&LEF 2009 audited financial statements and 2008 Form 990 , “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,” provides details of its operations and financial positions.

Our Core Mission

The Foundation’s mission is to identify, cultivate, and support the human talent, research, and initiatives most vital to the progress and prosperity of the lodging industry.  We achieve this through:

• Scholarships: cultivating future leaders
  Since its inception, AH&LEF has invested approximately $7.5 million in scholarships, both for students and professionals seeking to advance their skills.
• Scholar's Alumni Association (SAA): keeping our scholars' careers on track
  Designed as an exclusive network of past scholarship recipients, SAA assists former scholars in advancing their hospitality careers and promoting them as future hospitality leaders to the industry.
• Funding Essential Research: looking forward
  Our research addresses critical issues such as room tax, energy, and technology advancement, and we award grants to make these studies happen. 
• School-to-Career Programs: building tomorrow's workforce
  Through the Lodging Management Program, high school students can learn about the wide array of lodging careers and gain entry-level skills.
• Workforce development initiatives: securing lodging's future
  A $3 million endowment is dedicated to developing and supporting programs that attract and train potential new employees, as well as encourage existing staff to remain in the hospitality industry. 

Foundation Staff and Board 

	Joori Jeon, CPA, CAE - President & COO, and AH&LA Executive Vice President  & Chief Financial Officer Responsible for raising the Foundation's profile as the premier charitable fundraising engine of the industry.
	Michelle Poinelli - Senior Vice President of Foundation Programs Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Foundation's programs.  Staff liaison to the Fund Development, Scholarship, and Research & Project Funding Committees.
	Christa Boatman - Manager of Foundation Programs Manages the Foundation's databases; organizes and coordinates the Big Apple Silent Auction. Assists in the coordination of the Foundation's scholarship programs.
	Victoria Hewitt - Foundation Assistant Provides administrative support for the Foundation.

To view a current list of AH&LEF board members, please click here.

AH&LEF Committees

Various committees are in place to advise the strategic direction of the Foundation.

To view a list of current AH&LEF committees, please click here. 

Archived Press Releases

Click here to view past AH&LEF press releases, regarding scholarships, fund raising, research grants and more.

Contact Us

American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation
1201 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005-3931
(202) 289-3100
FAX (202) 289-3199

Please direct general inquiries regarding the Foundation to Christa Boatman, at cboatman@ahlef.org.

For any fund raising and research grant questions, please contact Michelle Poinelli, senior vice president of Foundation programs, at mpoinelli@ahlef.com.

Send us your feedback!
AH&LEF welcomes your comments, especially on how we can improve our Website.

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