Washington, D.C., October 6, 2015  Harry Javer, president, The Conference Bureau and co-founder, The Lodging Conference, and his wife Elizabeth Wolff contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation's (AH&LEF) 2015 Annual Giving Campaign. The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation's yearly fundraiser that supports its core missions, including providing scholarships to hospitality management students, funding important research in areas such as room tax and ADA requirements, as well as workforce development initiatives and promoting hospitality as a career of choice.

Since 2013, Javer has been chairman of the AH&LEF Fund Development Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the Annual Giving Campaign. A strong supporter of AH&LEF, the Lodging Conference has sponsored AH&LEF scholarship recipients to attend the conference for the last 14 years. This year marks Javer and Wolff's third donation at the six-diamond level.

Chairing the Fund Development Committee is the most rewarding thing I do, said Javer. In this capacity, I get to participate in the scholarship selection process which affords me the opportunity to read the essays that are submitted by students from around the country. It is very clear to me that these bright, ambitious students are eager to pursue a career in hospitality but face enormous financial barriers. Many are going to school while working part and full time to make ends meet so every dollar we raise is important to helping support the future leaders of the industry.

The Foundation is extremely fortunate to have individuals like Harry and Elizabeth in our corner. Their support over the years has greatly contributed to the Foundation's ability to maintain its programs,said AH&LEF president/AH&LA CFO Joori Jeon. We would love to see even more industry leaders like them who understand that their financial contributions ensure the future of our industry.

AH&LEF is the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and is funded solely by charitable donations from progressive hospitality leaders and companies within the industry. In 2014, AH&LEF disbursed more than $1 million to prepare promising college students for a career in hospitality, to attract and retain talented industry professionals, and to fund valuable research for the industry. Since the Foundation's inception, more than $18.5 million has been distributed through its scholarship, education, outreach, and research programs. For more information about donating, contact Michelle Poinelli, senior vice president of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3181 or mpoinelli@ahlef.org or visit www.ahlef.org.