These businesses invest their time, resources and expertise to help change the face of our industry
The work of AEF would not be possible without the generous support of over 100 business and organizations year-round, through financial support or by in-kind donations of goods and services.
A full list of partners and donors can be found in our Annual Review.
To donate to the American Experience Foundation, click here.
To learn more about how your company can partner with AEF, visit our Get Involved page or contact Associate Director, Lisa Waldschmitt.
Randy Herron, Herron Printing & Graphics
"I love the hospitality industry. It just seemed natural that my business would support an organization that supports the future of that industry. It is important to me that we invest in the next generation of travel professionals, especially young people from our nation's capital. I hope to continue to support AEF for years to come."
Get to know some of our amazing partners
2023 Partners
In-Kind Partners - Educational Programs
- ARTECHOUSE
- Battle's Transportation
- Bill's Bar & Burger
- Carmine's Italian Restaurant Washington DC
- Conrad Washington DC
- Eastern Point Collective
- Georgetown University Athletics
- Grand Hyatt Washington
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
- Marriott Marquis New York
- Metropolitian Washington Airports Authority
- Monumental Sports
- O Street Mansion
- Pod Hotel Times Square
- Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Symmetry
- W New York Times Square
- Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association
- Washington Marriott Capitol Hill
- Washington Nationals
In-Kind Partners - Events
- Alta Strada - Schlow Restaurant Group
- Alto
- American University
- Arena Stage
- ARTECHOUSE
- Big Bus
- Bikram Yoga Works
- Broadway at the National
- Cake-wich Craft
- Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic
- City Experiences
- Conrad Washington DC
- Convive Brands
- DC Ghost Tours
- Destination DC
- Downtown Holiday Market
- Encore
- Events DC
- Extraordinary Entertainment
- Fava Pot
- Fogo de Chão Washington, DC
- George Washington's Mount Vernon
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Herron Printing & Graphics
- Holistically Original
- Hook Hall
- Hyatt Regency Baltimore
- Jo Malone
- Kennedy Center
- Kick Axe
- Kraken Axes
- Morton's Steakhouse
- Nama Ko - Schlow Restaurant Group
- National Cherry Blossom Festival
- National Geographic Museum
- Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza
- Seize The App
- Swingers
- Swingers
- The Conrad Washington DC
- The Escape Game DC
- The Royal Sonesta
- Uncle Chip's
- Westin DC City Center
2022 Partners
Financial Support
- ARTECHOUSE
- American Pharmacists Association
- Willard Intercontinental
- America 250
- The Baskin Group
- Ben’s Chili Bowl
- Big Bus Tours
- The Campbell Consulting Group
- Clyde’s Restaurant Group
- DC Department of
- Employment Services
- Donohoe Hospitality Services
- Encore
- Herron Printing and Graphics
- Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
- IncludEquity
- LINK Strategic Partners
- Metropolitan Washington
- Airports Authority
- NFP
- ProFish
- Washington Business Journal
- Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association
- White House Gifts
Professional Development In-Kind
- Anacostia Riverkeepers
- Carr Properties
- Destination DC
- Donohoe Hospitality Services
- Eaton Workshop
- The Escape Game DC, Downtown
- Fogo de Chao Washington DC
- Georgetown Heritage
- Hargrove from Encore
- Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
- Moxy Washington, DC Downtown
- Pinstripes
- Puttery
- Selina Union Market
In-Kind Educational Programs
- AC Hotel by Marriott Washington DC Downtown
- Atlantic 10 Conference
- Ben’s Chili Bowl
- Briana Thomas
- Clyde’s of Gallery Place
- Concord Hospitality
- Conrad Washington, DC
- Destination DC
- Enchant Christmas
- Events DC
- Le Pan Quotidien
- Washington Auto Show
- Washington Nationals
- Willard InterContinental
- Yardbird
In-Kind Career Ready Internships
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- ARTECHOUSE
- Chef Jenny Dorsey / Studio ATAO
- DC Department of Energy & Environment
- Destination DC
- Dr. Erinn Tucker-Oluwole
- Eaton Workshop
- International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education
- Profish/Ivy City Smokehouse
- Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
- UNITE HERE Local 25
2022 Donors
Inspirational
- Elliott Ferguson & Telesa Via
- Darien Wright
Leaders
- Claire Carlin
- Ernie Arias
- Gail E. Smith-Howard
- Germaine Lutman Schaefer
- Greg Casten
- Hospitality Ventures Management LLC*
Mentors
- David Willard
- Gary Walbridge*
- Jimmie Paschall*
- Melissa A. Riley
- Peter Scholl
- Robin McClain
- Sunny Sumter
College Ready
- Carla Hall
- Chelsea & Ryan Kaiser
- Lisa Waldschmitt
- Merike Henneman
- Thomas Vecchioni
Workplace Learners
- Anasia Hines
- Candice Sanders
- Denise Naguib*
- Derrick & Jessica Garrett
- John Snedden
- Keri Robinson*
- Martin Hamburger
- Nina Doumani*
- Richard Taffs*
- Rico Ashab
- Ruthie Walker
- Shawn Moore
- Shirley Del Carpio
- Valerie Sumner
Included here are donations from Oct. 1, 2021-Sept. 30, 2022
*Donated to the Ray Bennett Memorial Fund
Supporters
- Allison Johnson
- Amy Austin
- Andrea Van Wambeke
- Baptise Fruchart
- Brittany Agro
- Bruno Schwartz
- Chad Shuskey
- Christine Brady
- Christopher Jameson
- D.C. Becker*
- Danielle Davis
- David Burgess
- Dennis Koster
- Diana Mayhew
- Eleanor Hamburger
- Janet Souter*
- Jean & Steve Shulman
- Jennifer Rodrigues
- John Kim
- Kai & Kia Jackson
- Karen Varrone
- Kelly Fitzpatrick
- Kenny Blakeney
- Kristen Barden
- Lisa Hill
- Maria Bezdenezhnykh
- Mieka Wick*
- Rhonda Payne
- Richard Carlin
- Sue Alexander
- Tara Miller
- Terri Carter
- Theresa Belpulsi
- Torri Christian
- Vanessa Ryan
Friends
- Andrew O’Connor
- Barbara Richardson
- Brandon Murray
- Brian Williams
- Candyce Beatty
- Charlie Carlin
- Christen Miller
- Colleen Scypinski
- Dana Hansen
- Danielle Campana
- Dawn Booth*
- Deb & Peter Hernandez
- Deirdre Lyles
- Elisabeth Green*
- Emily Vecchioni
- George Cooley
- Greg Murray
- Heidi Pilloud
- Hope Smith
- Jenna Williams
- Jennifer Upshaw
- Jill Vose*
- Kari Smith
- Katherine Gibbs
- Kathryn Barenbrugge*
- Katie Streater
- Kevin Tanzola*
- Kimberly Araya
- Kirsten Olean
- Kola Aina
- Lajja Ashar
- Lawrence Welch*
- Logan Yearsley
- Lynne Ayotte
- Maida Piggee
- Marc Mahacek
- Marcia Lee
- Mark McGrath
- Michal Gross
- Susan O’Keefe
- Tori Barnes
- Victoria Foster
- Zoe Roberts
