Mimi LeClair's Legacy:
A Lifelong Commitment to the Next Generation
When Mimi LeClair retired in June 2023 from her role as President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC), it marked the close of an extraordinary chapter in a decades-long career dedicated to creating brighter futures for our young people. Given her commitment to kids, it came as no surprise when, months later, LeClair returned, not for applause or recognition, but because her heart couldn't stay away.
In 2024, BGCC found itself in a transitional moment without a leader, and LeClair stepped forward once again to serve. Without hesitation, she assumed the position of Interim President and CEO, this time, unpaid. Her decision to forgo a salary wasn't made to make headlines. Instead, it came from her unwavering belief in BGCC’s mission.
"Mimi didn't just talk about service, she lived it," said longtime colleague Holly Allen. "After her years leading BGCC, Mimi felt compelled to give back when asked to serve in this interim role, which is why she asked to forgo any compensation during this transitional time for the organization.”
LeClair's return wasn't ceremonial: It was hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up work that ensured the youth in our care never felt the impact of the transition. In every conversation and decision, it exemplified what steady, principled leadership looks like.
From the moment she first joined BGCC until the day she officially passed the torch to new President and CEO Susanna Wickham, LeClair's focus remained the same: Chicago’s children and teens come first. In these moments of challenge and opportunity, LeClair ensured that Clubs remained safe, welcoming, and transformative spaces for every child who entered through the doors.
Today, LeClair's impact lives on through the thousands of young people she has inspired and the leaders she has mentored, the programs she helped build, and the future she refused to give up on.
Thank you, Mimi LeClair, for showing us how the most significant legacy is not in the title we hold, but in the lives we impact.
