The 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has received a 2005 Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The Summit Award is the ASAE’s highest honor recognizing associations implementing community-based programs.

The AICPA and six other organizations were selected from among more than 200 entrants to win this year’s Summit Award recognizing their efforts involving public education and information, business and social innovation, citizenship and democracy enhancement and civic community volunteerism. The Society’s Associations Advance America committee selects the winners who will receive their awards at the sixth annual Summit Awards Dinner in Washington D.C. on September 27.

“Through the combined efforts of the AICPA, the state societies and many individual CPAs, 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy has reached 145 million Americans to date,” says Carl George, Chairman of the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission.

“We share this great honor with the thousands of CPAs who, either on their own or through the outstanding programs of the state CPA societies, have generously volunteered their time and talents to help Americans understand their personal finances,” Barry Melancon, AICPA President and CEO said in response to the Summit Award.

The AICPA launched 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy in May 2004 with the purpose of helping Americans understand how various financial issues affect them at different stages of life. The consumer website www.360financialliteracy.org, which contains articles, tools and FAQs on a myriad of financial topics is the centerpiece of the program. In addition, most of the state CPA societies have created a variety of financial literacy programs for their communities under AICPA leadership. The program has also earned public commendation from government officials including U.S. Secretary of the Treasury John Snow and U.S. Comptroller General David Walker.

John H. Graham IV, President and CEO of the ASAE concurred adding that “[360 Degrees of Financial Literacy] truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign.”