The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is a nonprofit organization founded in 1947 that honors self-made individuals who have overcome adversity, awarding scholarships and recognizing American success stories. It was established to promote and ensure the American Dream for future generations, honor the achievements of outstanding Americans who have succeeded in spite of adversity, and emphasize the importance of higher education. The association is named after Horatio Alger, a 19th-century author of hundreds of dime novels in the 'rags-to-riches' genre who extolled the importance of perseverance and hard work.