Walter Kirwin interview, 2001

Kirwin, Walter - Oral History Interview - CSWA ❧ Interviewed by Horace Sheldon on February 2, 2001. An interview with Walter Kirwin as he discusses his position as head of Volunteer Center of Los Angeles; childhood and upbringing; experience with ARCO; retirement; origin of the Volunteer Action Center of Los Angeles; changing face of volunteerism. ❧ Walter Kirwin chaired the ARCO Foundation for a number of years until his retirement. This experience in the role of charitable foundations was followed by his work as the Executive of the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles, a non-profit agency, which he served for five years. This interview shares his views about the mission and functioning of both kinds of organizations. The interview, Horace Sheldon, also had been involved in voluntarism and corporations. As Director of Industrial Relations for Ford Motor Company, he was involved in the beginnings and operation of the national Center for Voluntary Action, following the request of former President, Richard Nixon. He is now himself a volunteer and in that capacity, conducts oral history interviews for the California Social Welfare Archives, located in the University of Southern California School of Social Work. ❧ Walter Kirwin. Interviewed by Horace Sheldon. Date of interview: 2-2-01. Length of interview: 51 minutes. Transcript of interview: 24 pp. CD containing interview and transcript.