Frank C. Kiehne Charitable Fund

This fund benefits the YMCA of Reading and Berks County and YMCA of the USA.

It memorializes Sgt. Frank C. Kiehne, who passed away in 2014 at age 88.

Frank served in the Marine Corps during both World War II and the Korean War, during which time he was assigned to facilitate the first racial integration of a US military base under the orders of President Truman. He went on to become the CEO of the Reading and Berks YMCA from 1961 to 1970, where he was responsible for such advances as finding the financing to install a $1 million swimming pool.

In 1970, Reading Mayor Yarnell named September 1 “Frank C. Kiehne Day” in honor of his service to the city. In later years, he became the CEO of the YMCA of Washington DC, then the Director of the International Division of the YMCA of the USA, a consultant for the Peace Corps, and finally Secretary for Refugees and Rehabilitation for the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva, Switzerland.

Frank was a tireless and fearless advocate of the oppressed, dedicating endless hours to this work, taking him to many of the most troubled and violent places in the world, at times facing soldiers while at the point of a bayonet. He was known for having a special talent for forming effective working coalitions among opponents and groups at odds with each other. More information about his long career can be found in his obituary from the Washington Post.