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Award-Winning Development Executive Marlene Wizelman Named Major Gifts Officer
Joins GRF Team Including Brunner, Palmer and Torres
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Monday, July 9, 2007) — Seasoned Bay Area fund-raising executive Marlene Wizelman, with extensive experience in designing and leading successful capital campaigns, initiating new fund development programs, and building donor communities, will become Glaucoma Research Foundation’s first Major Gifts Officer effective today, announced GRF President and CEO Thomas M. Brunner.
“There are so many people across the country who want to get more personally involved in our quest to find a cure for glaucoma,” said Brunner. “We needed somebody with Mrs. Wizelman’s proven strengths in building sincere relationships to reach out to these dedicated individuals. We are very proud we could attract somebody with Mrs. Wizelman’s excellent reputation in the community to join our staff.”
As Development Director at the Oakland Zoo, Wizelman designed and led the $8 million campaign to build the new Children’s Zoo, increased membership to 25,000 households and built a strong community-based development program.
As a consultant, she has most recently created the development program for Oak Hill School in Marin, a school for children with autism. Previously, she has served as Assistant Head of Advancement at Marin Academy increasing annual contributions to $5 million from less than $100,000 (a feat acknowledged by a prestigious CASE – Council for Advancement and Support of Education — Award for Excellence in Fund Raising).
In the community, Wizelman has served as Chair of the Association of Bay Area Development Officers, was a trustee and campaign co-chair for Julia Morgan School for Girls, and was a member of the Planning Council of the California Development Partnership.
As a lecturer, she has made presentations at seminars and conferences offered by CASE, and the national associations of both Fund Raising Executives and Professionals. She lives in Kensington, with her husband Ron.
Wizelman joins the development team including Brunner, Director of Development Craig Palmer, and Development Projects Specialist Carmen Torres.
About the Glaucoma Research Foundation
Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, the Glaucoma Research Foundation works to prevent vision loss from glaucoma by investing in innovative research, education, and support with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.