Pamela J Bruns

BRUNS, Pamela (Pam) J. of Oakwood, 59, passed away on September 10, 2013 at Hospice of Dayton after a courageous, private battle with cancer. Burial services were conducted with her immediate family at Calvary Cemetery on September 16 with Major Tom Duperree, Salvation Army, presiding. Born on September 27, 1953 in Hamilton, Ohio, Pam attended Miami University and received BA and MS degrees from Wright State University. She served as an ACE Fellow at Fisk University in Nashville and began her career in Nashville as a champion for nonprofits with the Girl Scouts of America. Pam was a regional icon in the fundraising consulting world from Dayton to Columbus to Cincinnati and engineered successful campaigns repeatedly, always in the background supporting volunteer and staff leadership. Many Dayton area nonprofits and fundraising professionals she mentored are the beneficiaries of her work. Among the most publicized campaigns in which she never allowed her role to be mentioned were the Dayton Art Institute, Carillon Historical Park and Dayton History, the Salvation Army and Cox Arboretum. In 1996 the Greater Dayton Region Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized her as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive. She retired from Dayton History and as CEO of the Cause Consultancy on August 1 of this year. In addition to believing in and supporting the causes for which she worked, Pam was a movie buff, lover of good books and art, and also an avid collector of art. She is survived by her parents, Henry C. and Marjorie O. Proffitt; brother Kevin Proffitt; sister-in-law Joan Proffitt; nephews Kyle and Troy, and niece Megan, all of Cincinnati, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Dayton History, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409 or The Salvation Army, 1000 N. Keowee St., Dayton, OH 45404 or other charities Pam advised. A memorial service for friends and colleagues will be announced later. Online condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.