Dr. Samuel T. Gladding
Summer 2010

My father used to remind me when I was growing up to "Give yourself to something greater than you are." Therefore, when I was a fledgling counselor in the 1970s, I began donating regularly to the American Counseling Association Foundation. I thought its goal of strengthening the profession of counseling was worthy of my limited financial resources. I still do and this year I am privileged to give of my time as its chair.

So what does the Foundation do? In a word: "plenty!" The ACAF sponsors a number of preventative and growth enhancing programs that are a credit to it and those who contribute. One of the oldest and best programs ACAF conducts is supporting graduate students in counseling by underwriting scholarships to the annual ACA Convention and providing a graduate student longue at the convention. ACAF also underwriting the annual graduate student essay competition.

Second, but not of lesser importance, is the Growing Happy and Confident Kids program where ACAF provides resources to elementary school counselors to work with children to increase their emotional literacy and better equip them to handle life's challenges by dealing with bullying, prejudice, sexism, diversity, and other ills of our society.

Third, ACAF gives grants to counselors, through the Counselors Care Fund, to respond to traumatic and tragic events, such as those around surrounding hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Not all counselors can assist in such situations but ACAF tries to help counselors who can go and provide assistance.

Fourth, the Foundation encourages excellence in counseling through sponsoring the annual Awards Ceremony at the ACA Convention. At that time, counselors who have excelled in one or more areas of distinction are recognized.

Finally, the American Counseling Foundation publishes books and related materials which fill in important information gaps in the counseling literature.

How can you help? Simple! Make a donation on-line, at the annual convention, or whenever the opportunity avails itself. Give part of your book royalties if you are an ACA author. I do. Skip Starbucks for a week or do something else that involves sacrifice or creativity and contribute what you save or earn over that time period. The American Counseling Association Foundation is a nonprofit organization and in supporting its work, you will be strengthening the counseling profession and the American Counseling Association. So be generous and give yourself to something great!