2.22.2008 - 10:45am ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, DC – February 22, 2008 - The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation has approved a $500,000 grant in support of The Center for Association Leadership's Social Responsibility Initiative, a long-term initiative to positively change the world by identifying and developing tools, guidelines and best practices that can be used by associations and their members to integrate social responsibility platforms at all levels of their operations.

As part of its Social Responsibility Initiative, ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership (The Center) are in the midst of planning a first-ever Global Summit on Social Responsibility to be held April 30-May 2, 2008 at a host site in Washington, DC, and at dozens of connected sites in the U.S. and around the world, as well as online.

"Throughout its involvement in ASAE & The Center, which included a major investment in 2001 in our Marriott Learning Complex at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, the Marriott family has shown tremendous vision and understanding of our programs, services and initiatives," said Susan Sarfati, CAE, president and CEO of The Center for Association Leadership and executive vice president of ASAE. "With the Marriott Foundation's support and guidance from Marriott International, we are well positioned to create and advance a social responsibility initiative that will drive innovation and additional business while delivering tangible benefits not only to our local communities but to the world in which we live and work."

"Marriott International's own commitment to social responsibility is exemplary. The company's track-record on a wide range of issues from diversity and people with disabilities to youth employability and the environment is admirable," said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. "With the support of the Marriott Foundation and others, we will move the concept of social responsibility from conversation to action."

Marriott International has been a long-time contributor to ASAE's work, providing more than $500,000 since 2000 to help support the ongoing education and development of the association community's current and future leaders.

"Social responsibility and community engagement have long been a cornerstone of our company," said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO of Marriott International. "We look forward to the Global Summit and are pleased to support ASAE & The Center's Social Responsibility Initiative. By encouraging associations to leverage their efforts, they have a tremendous potential to expand their role and influence in addressing an entire range of global issues."

Over the past two years, ASAE & The Center have facilitated a tremendously productive dialogue on the topic of social responsibility. At the Global Summit this spring, participants will identify the unique competencies associations bring to the table, and how those competencies can be leveraged to affect change. Beyond sharing stories and discussing what the association community can do, participants will leave the Summit with guiding principles and practices that they can employ to integrate social responsibility into their organizations’ everyday operations.

For more information about the Global Summit on Social Responsibility, please visit the Summit website at www.asaecenter.org/globalsummitsr.

About ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership are two organizations linked together by a common belief and passion. We believe that associations have the power to transform society for the better. Our passion is to help associations and association professionals achieve previously unimaginable levels of performance and reach even higher goals. We accomplish this by fostering a learning community of association professionals, industry partners, outside thought leaders, and other stakeholders who embrace this vision.

The American Society of Association Executives is an individual membership organization of more than 22,000 association executives and industry partners representing more than 11,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies, and voluntary organizations across the United States and in 50 countries around the globe. Our members' organizations represent such essential industries and professions as health care, manufacturing, banking, law, energy, insurance, and the list goes on. We are also a leading voice for the nonprofit sector, advocating for voluntary organizations so that they may continue to improve the quality of life in the United States.

The Center for Association Leadership is the premier provider of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association profession. The Center delivers innovative learning experiences, performance-enhancing resources, new thinking and models for the profession, opportunities for peer-to-peer collaboration, and strategic tools and data designed to advance the association profession. Offerings include nearly 100 professional development programs through Center University, environmental scanning and other future focused research, a peer –reviewed journal, and more than 5,000 online articles, models, and case studies. Together, ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership provide resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association community.

About the Marriott Foundation

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation was established in 1965 with the purpose of giving back to the community. Under the current direction of J.W. Marriott, Jr. and Richard E. Marriott, the Marriott Foundation is dedicated to helping youth secure a promising future, especially through education on the secondary and higher education levels, mentoring and youth leadership programs. Equally important are organizations that help provide relief from hunger and disasters; support people with disabilities; and create gainful employment opportunities for vulnerable youth and adults.

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