NAFA Receives Points Of Light Award From MASAE

(Left to right) MASAE President Dan Lemyre, CAE, IOM, Association Headquarters, Inc. presents NAFA Deputy Executive Director Patrick McCarren with plaques for NAFA and for Executive Director Phil Russo, CAE.

NAFA was recently recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives (MASAE) with the Points Of Light Award for the Association’s demonstrated commitment to its community and the needs of others. The Points of Light Award is designed to honor a MASAE member who has demonstrated a commitment to his/her community and the needs of others.

Specifically, this honor was for the Association's work with Habitat for Humanity and the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, both of which have connections to NAFA’s annual Institute & Expo. MASAE is a regional association serving the needs of professionals working in not-for-profit associations.

One of the more prominent examples of NAFA’s commitment arrived post-Hurricane Katrina. The Institute & Expo (I&E), NAFA’s annual conference, was scheduled to take place in New Orleans in April 2009, but there was considerable debate about whether or not to cancel. Rather than turn its back on the City and its residents, NAFA and its members followed through and did their part. Teaming with Habitat For Humanity and LeasePlan USA (whose President and CEO Mike Pitcher hailed from New Orleans), NAFA provided both labor and a $2,500 donation.

NAFA continued working with Habitat For Humanity in successive years in Detroit, MI; Charlotte, NC; St. Louis, MO; and Atlantic City earlier this year. NAFA’s monetary contributions over that same time, combined with matching donations, have exceeded $25,000.

Also in conjunction with I&E, NAFA has conducted a silent auction during its Expo, asking exhibitors to provide gifts and prizes that are sold to the highest bidders. All proceeds from the auctioned items are donated to Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Since 2010, NAFA’s donations to St. Jude’s have exceeded $20,000.

Russo commented, "It is very humbling to be recognized by one’s peers. NAFA considers this to be one of the highest honors it has ever earned. The funny thing is, no one at NAFA went into these activities with the idea of getting recognition for doing this work. We have so much to be thankful for and we consider it an honor – and a duty – to share our gifts with others."

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