Oral history interview of 2019 YMCA Hall of Fame Inductee: Alice "Bonnie" Mairs
Description:
This is an oral history interview of 2019 YMCA Hall of Fame Inductee, Alice "Bonnie" Mairs. Erin Friedman (not on camera) was the interviewer. The interview is almost 25 minutes. Alice “Bonnie” Mairs, Staff, (1936- ) During her 36-year career with the YMCA, Alice “Bonnie” Mairs advanced the national and global mission and profile of the Y. Her passion and commitment to international educational exchange was unwavering. Among her many accomplishments, Bonnie brought the world to camp. She expanded the European-based International Camp Counselor Program (ICCP) to include camps based throughout the U.S., and opened the ICCP to include participation of counselors from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In related efforts, she created ICCP Abroad, which sends young Americans to serve in overseas Y camps, and the Summer Work/Travel Program, which places international young adults in support positions in summer camps and YMCAs. She also expanded the YMCA presence at the United Nations by linking YMCA and U.N. leaders on issues of common interest. She ended her Y career in 2006 after having served for 15 years as the executive director of the International Branch YMCA for the YMCA of Greater New York. Bonnie served twice as the chair of the McBurney Morse Chair of Y Alumni. Since retirement, Bonnie serves as chair of the Secours Speciaux, the World Alliance of YMCAs emergency fund, which raises money and provides grants to international retirees facing personal crises, such as medical issues or insufficient retirement funds. Files are born digital files. Ref file is 240p and master is 360p. Originally the resolution was listed in title. The resolution was removed in the final file name;
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