The American Architectural Foundation is a 501(c)(3) educational organization governed by an independent Board of Regents that consists of public, corporate, philanthropic, and professional leaders. The AAF believes that our surroundings affect all of us. Our houses and places of work and the communities in which we live profoundly shape our spiritual and mental well-being. Our ability to be productive, our capacity to use our physical and cognitive skills, even our susceptibility to stress are measurably influenced by what we inhabit. We must become involved in the design of our environment. Yet most of us are not aware we have a role in shaping our architecture. In the words of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, "...too many Americans will spend their lives as architectural illiterates." The heavy price we pay for this lack of understanding is evident in almost every American town and city. The AAF is a national resource for those who want our communities to be centers of civilization and our children to inherit a wholesome physical environment that uplifts the spirit. The Foundation's purpose is to help people understand the importance of architecture in their lives and then use that understanding to enrich their lives and transform their communities.