STAMFORD, CT – June 9, 2011 – In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the United States’ au pair program, the Connecticut State Senate has issued an official citation offering congratulations to Au Pair in America, the nation’s first au pair organization.
“We are very honored to receive this prestigious proclamation from the state of Connecticut, the place where Au Pair in America has called home since 1986,” states William L. Gertz, President and CEO of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), the parent company of Au Pair in America. “We are looking forward to another 25 years of ‘bringing the world together’ while providing exceptional child care for American families.”
In addition, Senator Joseph Lieberman and Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut issued their own recognition and well wishes in recent Congressional Records.
“I can personally attest to the strength and value of the Au Pair Program,” remarked Senator Lieberman at the May 26 Senate session. “When our youngest daughter was growing up, Hadassah and I had several au pairs. The exchange experience enriched the lives of our au pair and my family through the sharing of culture, language and religion.”
To further honor this historic milestone, Au Pair in America will co-host a 25th anniversary celebration along with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 9.
Founded in 1986, the U.S. Department of State’s au pair program allows 18 to 26-year-old international visitors who travel to the U.S. on a J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of American life while living with an American family and caring for their young children.
Au Pair in America, the first organization to be authorized as a sponsor of the program in 1986, matches potential au pairs that meet the different criteria posed by host families. Both au pairs and families complete a thorough application and matching process to ensure the best situation for all parties.
To learn more about the program, contact Au Pair in America at (800) 928-7247 or visit them on the web at www.aupairinamerica.com.
Au Pairs from six clusters spent the afternoon ice skating at Sports Center of Connecticut.
Au Pairs from three clusters gathered on a recent Sunday afternoon for a scavenger hunt in downtown Fairfield, Connecticut. 
