Meet the Crew: Israel Bonnell, Volunteer and Supporter

Congrats to volunteer and supporter Israel Bonnell! He was this year's recipient of the Vanguard Award, our highest distinction, at Summits & Horizons on October 1. 

Israel's connection to the Crew began in 2017, when Ohio River Paddlefest founder and Adventure Crew board member Brewster Rhoads was his boat dock neighbor. 

"Brewster's energy and enthusiasm is contagious, and we became friends fast," Israel said.

The following summer, Israel volunteered with Paddlefest for the first time. As a safety boat captain, he uses his beautifully restored 1969 custom classic houseboat, built by a Cincinnati boat builder, to help ensure the safety of paddlers on the Ohio River during Adventure Crew's largest community event. 

"Participating in Paddlefest has become an annual event for my family and our closest friends, and my family and friends look forward to it every year," he said. 

What's more, his circle of friends has grown over the years as he bonded with others in the Crew, in part over a shared love of the outdoors. Growing up in Chennai on the southeast coast of India, planting gardens, taking care of trees (and climbing tall ones), and exploring woods, lakes, ponds and coastal backwaters were the norm. In Cincinnati, his home for the last 38 years, his favorite outdoor activities include going for walks in his neighborhood and local parks (with Sharon Woods being a favorite), boating and paddling on the Ohio River and simply spending time with friends on his boat.

Considering his love of the outdoors, Israel feels strongly about the Crew's mission of connecting young people with nature.

"The positive experiences in the formative years of their lives will carry through for the rest of their lives to be connected with nature, preserving it, and the health (physical and emotional) benefits that come from being close to nature."

Israel is a member of Knox Presbyterian Church, which his family has attended since his career brought them to Cincinnati in 1986. (After coming to the United States in 1976 to get his PhD in chemistry at the University of Kansas, he was on the faculty at the University of Oklahoma and then moved here to work for Procter & Gamble in R&D and IT. When P&G outsourced their IT work to HP, he joined that company, retiring at the end of 2023.)

At Knox, he's been involved with mission and Christian education programs, working with partner church Third Presbyterian in East Westwood. 

"Missions focus on community development, safety, education, healthy food, healthy recreation (including trips on the boat), and cross town/cross racial relationships," he said. "On the education front at Knox, I teach or organize adult education classes that connect Christian theology with those of other religions, sciences, economics, public policy and global awareness."

When he's not giving his time, Israel enjoys entertaining and spending time with friends and his family, which includes his wife, two sons and two grandchildren.

"I love to cook and we serve a variety of foods from around the world on the boat," he said. "We host groups from nonprofits to bring people together, foster friendships, and build enthusiastic financial support for the nonprofits."

"I strongly believe in the richness of diverse societies -- religions, ethnicities, talents and personalities," he said. "I try to foster connections and bring people together. I also have immense respect and admiration for the community leaders in nonprofits (like Brewster) and try to be a backstage enabler and cheerleader (sans pompoms!) for their work."  

Thanks, Israel, for being part of our Crew!