Founded in 1962, the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) is a federally recognized nonprofit organization devoted to promoting an intelligent appreciation of Ireland and contributions of the Irish in America. The IACI is strictly apolitical and nonsectarian, and is the only Irish American organization that has the president of Ireland as its patron. IACI's "The Irish Way" is a nationally-recognized summer study abroad program that has educated more than 4,000 American high school students since 1976.