PARK RIDGE, IL — The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Foundation is awarding $328,000 in academic scholarships and professional education grants to 117 individuals to help them achieve their educational and career goals in the occupational safety and health profession.

“For more than 30 years, our foundation has helped thousands of students and professionals continue their education in occupational safety and health,” said ASSP Foundation Chair Trish Ennis, CSP, ARM, CRIS. “The consistent support from our generous donors demonstrates that safety and health careers are vital in helping to protect workers everywhere.”

The 2021 awards include $307,000 in academic scholarships for 100 graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees related to occupational safety and health at 47 colleges and universities across the country. The ASSP Foundation is awarding another $21,000 in professional education grants to 17 practicing safety professionals who are working to advance their careers through certification, college coursework, conference attendance and similar learning opportunities.

Several corporate donors support these awards, including Amazon, American Contractors Insurance Group, Board of Certified Safety Professionals, FabEnCo, ISNetworld, Liberty Mutual Insurance, SafeStart, Texas Safety Foundation, UPS and The Walt Disney Company. Additionally, more than 100 ASSP chapters, common interest groups, practice specialties and members support the scholarship and grant programs every year.

Amazon has gifted the ASSP Foundation $120,000 this year and continues to support ASSP as a premier sponsor, advocating women in safety and expanding the Society’s ability to enhance diversity in the profession, in addition to its support of the future of the occupational safety and health profession.

“We are proud to be a returning sponsor of the ASSP Foundation to further support the advancement of the occupational safety and health profession,” said Heather MacDougall, vice president of worldwide workplace health and safety at Amazon. “Health and safety is our number one priority at Amazon, and by supporting ASSP, we are helping to create a growing network of empowered individuals focused on making the world a safer place.”

The ASSP Foundation – the charitable arm of ASSP that was chartered in 1990 – promotes occupational safety and health as a career choice and works to build a sustainable talent pipeline to make all industries safer worldwide. Its programs and services are solely supported by charitable donations from the ASSP community and corporations motivated to support the profession. The ASSP Foundation has invested more than $5 million into the occupational safety and health community to develop opportunities for career guidance, education and leadership development. The charitable effort is designed to attract new individuals to the profession as well as enhance the knowledge and skills of current safety students and professionals.

A complete list of the 2021 scholarship and grant recipients is available at www.assp.org/foundation.

About ASSP – Working together for a safer, stronger future
For more than 100 years, the American Society of Safety Professionals has been at the forefront of helping occupational safety and health professionals protect people and property. The nonprofit society is based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge. Its global membership of 36,000 professionals covers all industries, developing safety and health management plans that prevent injuries, illnesses and deaths. ASSP advances its members and the safety profession through education, advocacy, standards and a professional community. Its flagship publication, Professional Safety, is a longtime leader in the field. Visit www.assp.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.