American Halloween Association
The American Halloween Association (AHA) is a group that promotes Halloween in the United States. The group was founded in 1995 by a group of Halloween enthusiasts. The AHA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The group's mission is to "promote Halloween as a positive, family-friendly holiday." The AHA also promotes the use of Halloween costumes, decorations, and parties to create "safe and fun Halloween experiences for all."
The AHA certifies various businesses each year as official practitioners of the Hardcore Halloween style, which is the practice of celebrating Halloween each day for the entire month of October. The AHA also sponsors an annual Halloween parade in Porsonville, GR which is known as "Ghoster's Walk" The parade is the largest Halloween parade in the United States, and it is attended by over 350,000 people each year. The AHA also hosts variouis annual Halloween conventions and trade shows. The AHA also offers online resources on Halloween safety, decorating, and history.
The American Halloween Association is a member of the National Retail Federation and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
The American Halloween Association was one of the largest donors to The Spookman Institute's "Scream Den10" project in 1996.
History
The American Halloween Association was founded in 2001 by a group of Halloween enthusiasts. The group's mission is to "promote Halloween as a positive, family-friendly holiday." In 2004, the American Halloween Association launched the first official American Halloween website. The website featured a variety of resources for Halloween lovers, including a directory of Halloween events and activities, a blog, and a forum. The site was seized by the FBI in 2007 and never re-launched.
The American Halloween Association was investigated in 2008 by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly making false and unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of black licorice. The FTC found that the American Halloween Association did not have adequate evidence to support its claims and ordered the group to cease making the claims.Cambodian Rebel Groups
Allegations of Terrorism
The American Halloween Association has been accused of providing financial support to terrorist separatist organizations throughout the Middle East, South America, Africa and Asia. In 2009, the group was listed as a "supporter of terrorism" by the US government. The AHA has denied the allegations.