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Most of us would agree that this year has been a trying one. Drastic cuts to NIOSH and the continuing threats to the agency’s funding jeopardize, among other things, the Education and Research Centers that support so many students in industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety. So it was especially heartening to learn earlier this month that the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Foundation was making an extremely generous donation of $325,000 to the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation.

In alignment with the BCSP Foundation’s mission to advance the OEHS profession through strategic investment and initiatives in research, education, and workforce development, this gift helps ensure continued impact and meaningful engagement across the profession.

AIHF’s mission is to advance the industrial hygiene and OEHS professions through the awarding of scholarships to students and the funding of professional development and training during the early years of a professional’s career. Since 1982, AIHF has dispensed $2.9 million to IH and OEHS students. BCSP’s gift represents more than 11 percent of the total amount of AIHF scholarships distributed over the last 43 years.

The BCSP donation includes funding for the following initiatives:

$200,000 for a BCSP Endowed Award. These funds will provide at least one annual award of $5,000 to students, researchers, and professionals in environmental health and safety. The award will support one of the following types of projects: field-based research involving EHS elements such as environmental sampling, occupational exposure assessments, or ecological health monitoring; the development or implementation of new safety technologies, protocols, or systems; and initiatives that directly benefit underserved or at-risk populations through EHS education, intervention, or advocacy.

$100,000 to support the Future Leaders Institute. FLI is an AIHA program that strengthens the leadership skills of young industrial hygiene and OEHS professionals. BCSP’s contribution will be used to help up to five U.S.-based FLI participants travel to the event.

$25,000 for travel assistance to AIHA Connect. These funds are intended to help one student or early-career professional to attend the conference. The money will cover the conference registration fee and lodging for three nights.

Additionally, AIHF will receive $136,000 that is currently held in a BCSP endowment. It is expected that this money will be used to fund future occupational exposure limit development activities.

In these uncertain times, we must do all we can to ensure the future of the profession. The AIHA Board of Directors, the AIHF Board of Trustees, and I are tremendously grateful for BCSP’s generous support.

For more information about AIHF or to donate, visit the Foundation website.