ISSA End Period Poverty Campaign Recognized With ASAE Power Of Associations Summit Award

ISSA has been honored with the 2024 Power of Associations Summit Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The Summit Award is ASAE’s highest recognition for associations that make significant contributions to society through their innovative and effective programs.

ISSA received the Summit Award for its End Period Poverty campaign, which aims to alleviate period poverty and increase public access to essential menstrual care products through legislative advocacy and education.

“This issue impacts 500 million people worldwide. For example, one out of four students who menstruate face period poverty in the United States, and four in five teens have reported missing class time (State of the Period 2023),” according to a press release.

“We are honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from ASAE, which recognizes the power of associations to make a positive difference in the world,” ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft said. “Our End Period Poverty program is a testament to the vision and commitment of our members, who are not only leaders in the cleaning and facility solutions industry, but also champions of social justice and human dignity.”

ISSA’s End Period Poverty campaign was launched in October 2022 in partnership with the ISSA Hygieia Network, an ISSA Charities™ signature program dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the cleaning and facility solutions industries. This multi-faceted educational and advocacy campaign is aimed at ending period poverty and advancing period dignity. The campaign is guided by the belief that menstrual care solutions should be as available in away-from-home restrooms as soap, toilet paper, and paper towels.

Since launching, nine states have passed legislation to increase access to period products in schools — bringing the total number to 28; while two states have repealed their “tampon tax” — bringing the total number to 30. Additionally, there has been federal introduction of the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2023 and the Period PROUD Act of 2023.

ISSA will receive the Summit Award at ASAE’s Summit Awards Dinner on September 24, 2024, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The event will celebrate the achievements of the six Summit Award recipients, as well as the 25 Power of Associations Gold Award and 43 Power of Associations Silver Award winners.

For more information about ISSA and its End Period Poverty program, visit https://about.issa.com/end-period-poverty/ or contact John Nothdurft at johnn@issa.com.