For about 25 years Melissa Cameron’s been putting the “fun” in fundraising. In addition to volunteer positions as a board member for Big Thought, Family Place Partners and Launchability plus being a Cattle Baroness for many years, she joined the ranks of nonprofit professionals.
As Melissa describes herself, “I’m just one of the many nonprofit behind-the-scenes, want-to-do gooders…”
After serving as the Wilkinson Center’s development director, Melissa became chief development officer for Dallas Habitat for Humanity to orchestrate its successful $100M “Dream Dallas” campaign working alongside Roger Staubach, Toni Brinker, Brint Ryan and Mike Gruber. It was during that tenure that former President Jimmy Carter joined the workers to build a house in Dallas.
About four years ago Melissa became executive director of the American Heart Association Dallas/Fort Worth division resulting in record-breaking years for AHA’s Cotes du Coeur and Go Red for Woman Luncheon, as well as leading the largest Heart Walk in the country.
This past Dallas Heart Walk Melissa was joined by her 12-year-old daughter Katie [Cameron] and her National Charity League team. It was a poignant walk for Melissa, since she had turned in her resignation weeks before.
And what does Melissa have lined up? According to her, “I am taking some time to consider a few irons in the fire. But, I will be around. Nikki Webb and Nancy Gopez are seeing to it that I stay in the game helping with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Luncheon and getting involved with the Junior League of Dallas Sustainers.”