OAK BROOK, IL –The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) has been named to the 2007 Associations Advance America Honor Roll, a national awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, D.C.

The NFCA received the award for JOIN HANDS DAY, which is sponsored by America’s fraternal benefit societies.  Held on the first Saturday in May, JOIN HANDS DAY is the fraternal national day of service when youths and adults work together to plan and implement projects that benefit their local communities.  JOIN HANDS DAY gives Americans the opportunity to reach out to people they don’t know, to connect generations and to develop new relationships.  JOIN HANDS DAY also is the only day on the national Seasons of Service calendar that targets and develops youth/adult relationships through neighborhood volunteering.

Now in its 17th year, the prestigious Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward—with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship and community service.  Although association activities have a powerful impact on everyday life, they often go unnoticed by the general public.

“NFCA’s program—JOIN HANDS DAY—truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign.  It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society,” remarked Associations Advance America Committee Chair Charles A. McGrath, CAE, managing partner, client services at Bostrom Corporation.

For more information on JOIN HANDS DAY, visit www.joinhandsday.org or contact the JOIN HANDS DAY Action Center at (630) 522-6322, ext. 116, or actioncenter@joinhandsday.org.

About the NFCA
The 120-year-old NFCA unites 75 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.  The association represents 10 million fraternalists in 36,000 local chapters, making it one of America’s largest member-volunteer networks.  Fraternal benefit societies provide their members with leadership, social, educational, spiritual, patriotic, scholarship, financial and volunteer-service opportunities.  Combined, the NFCA’s member-societies maintain more than $324 billion of life insurance-in-force and, in 2005 alone, contributed almost $400 million to charitable and fraternal programs, and volunteered 93 million hours for community-service projects.  These statistics demonstrate the commitment that fraternals make to those in need and exemplify the true meaning of the NFCA signature phrase:  Joining Hands to Touch Lives.