ASME and Engineers Without Borders-USA Form Key Partnership

Engineering Organizations Collaborate to Increase Resources to Benefit the Developing World

NEW YORK, January 7, 2010 – ASME and Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) have announced an enhanced strategic partnership to leverage each organization’s strengths to benefit future joint initiatives and objectives. ASME will be established as an EWB-USA Principal Partner, which will not only help support the mission of ASME, but will enable EWB-USA to continue to address the needs of the developing world by utilizing the training and skills of mechanical engineers.

ASME’s collaboration with EWB-USA began in 2003 when ASME served on the EWB-USA board of directors as the first society partner to provide dedicated resources to support EWB-USA’s mission. Today, both organizations share similar strategic interests, including the development of the engineering workforce, making an impact on global needs and contributing to renewable energy initiatives.

The participation of ASME student and professional members and engineering mentors in EWB-USA global projects will serve to educate the next generation of socially conscious engineers to the needs of developing communities. With their common core values, both organizations will benefit from each other’s strengths and contribute to a more sustainable world.

“We are very proud to be partnering with EWB-USA,” said Thomas G. Loughlin, executive director of ASME. “This partnership is the natural next step in our ongoing relationship with the organization. The future outcomes of this enhanced collaboration will not only aid the engineering community in upcoming initiatives, but it will provide developing communities additional resources and solutions for the challenges they face.”

“Having the support of an association like ASME allows us to bring our missions and values together in order to more positively affect communities around the globe,” said Cathy Leslie, executive director of EWB-USA. “Not only are we working together to improve the lives of those in need, but this partnership also allows us to concentrate on ways in which we can strengthen the engineering community. We are thrilled that ASME is working with us during this incredibly exciting time.”

About ASME ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

About Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) EWB-USA is a nonprofit humanitarian organization established to support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects. EWB-USA members comprised of professional and student engineers or other disciplines, work with local communities and NGOs in over 45 developing countries around the world on projects such as water, renewable energy, sanitation and more. Time Magazine called Engineers Without Borders-USA the "Blueprint Brigade." EWB-USA has grown from little more than a handful of members in 2002 to over 12,000 members today and has over 400 projects worldwide. EWB-USA maintains over 250 dedicated chapters, including university chapters on 180 campuses in the United States, and has touched the lives of more than one million people.

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Media contact: Regina Nisita rnisita@affectstrategies.com or 212.398.9680 ext 145

ASME Contact: Mel Torre torrem@asme.org or 212.591.8157