Tourism Cares, the non-profit group dedicated to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, has assumed the administration and disbursement of all American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Foundation Scholarship funds.

When combined with Tourism Cares, the $1.4 million in the ASTA Foundation funds will bring Tourism Cares' net assets to nearly $3.5 million.

"To manage and distribute these prestigious ASTA scholarships alongside our own scholarship program is both an honor and a privilege for Tourism Cares," said Bruce Beckham, executive director, Tourism Cares.

Since 1982, 20 scholarships of varying amounts have been granted annually to both travel professionals seeking to further their education and to students pursuing bachelors, masters, doctorates, community college or hospitality-school programs. The funds for these ASTA scholarships will continue to bare their namesakes, but will be transferred to Tourism Cares' guardianship. Tourism Cares will continue to honor all original bequests relating to the ASTA Foundation Scholarship funds.

"The transfer will allow the ASTA Scholarship Foundation to benefit from the full-time administrative and fundraising activities Tourism Cares can provide," said Bill Maloney, CTC, ASTA executive vice president and COO. "While ASTA will retain control over a pool of non-endowed funds, we saw this as a way to enhance public awareness of the funds."