At the end of my rope, I wandered into an AA meeting in Brooklyn on 1/22/88, hopeless, disgusted with myself and my life. I was thirty years old and had lost the love of my life 5 years prior. And during those years I drank with a passion of a person totally consumed, in what I would come to know, through attending AA meetings, by a disease of body, mind and spirit. The smile on the faces of people who told harrowing stories of people who despite losing family, friends and employment because of their drinking still, could not put he bottle down. I heard not one story in my AA beginnings, but hundreds of people whose life had been saved and families and jobs restored. their stories restored a hope long since lost to me. Maybe I had a chance. I did as suggested: joined a group, got a sponsor and no matter what, I did not pick up a drink. Soon I was back in college. And because I was showing up to work on a regular basis I began to move up in the company. While working I finished college, got a Masters degree and got married. I have been sober for 31 years and counting. AA is the gift that keeps on giving. It has made me a better person, man and citizen. And it has done this for millions of people since its inception in 1935.. It is a great blessing to this world. And deserving to be considered one of the great Nonprofits.
AA's Tradition Seven prohibits AA World Services, Inc.--as well as providing like guidance for autonomous, local AA groups and entities--from accepting contributions for ANY source other than AA members. AAWS is professionally audited, annually, and files all reports, and complies with EVERY requirement imposed by IRS and New York State regarding, charitable, tax-exempt organizations.