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Bethany was bit by the fundraising bug when she was asked to be the spokesperson for her church’s capital campaign at eight years old. Fast forward three decades and she’s dedicated her professional life to helping people connect their giving with causes that matter to them. Currently, Bethany serves as Vice President, Chief Development Officer for Herron Classical Schools. She holds an M.Div. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Smith College. Bethany lives in Midtown with her husband Joe, their pandemic baby Caton, and their beagle Dolly Parton. Your turn, Bethany!
My Maven Superpower is … Making the connection between people’s passions and the change they want to see in the world.
Self-care habits I swear by … Finding time at least once a week to call an out-of-town friend. Staying connected to my favorite people from past lives keeps me grounded.
I feel most confident when … I’ve been a part of helping a donor see their legacy in action.
My first job was … Teaching toddlers tap dancing.
The best career advice I can offer is … Don’t be afraid to make a change if what you’re doing now doesn’t feel right anymore. It is okay to rework the map and head someplace totally new.
My favorite local restaurant dish is … Anything from Iria’s Italian Restaurant.
A purchase I’ve been loving lately is … I love my Bissel SteamShot Delux Hard Surface Steam Cleaner so much that if you were thinking about buying one, I would tell you to do it yesterday.
The skill I most want to learn is … How to shut my brain off so that I can sleep in peace.
A Maven you should know is … Faith Blackwell… she has taken all my best headshots in the last seven years! Sign up for a PowerShot shoot next time she offers one!
The thing I’ve been binging lately is … Station Eleven (both the book and the show… they are two totally different experiences and I thoroughly enjoyed them both!)
What’s next for me is … Looking forward to celebrating some important philanthropic wins for Indianapolis and watching my kiddo grow into their personality even more. I’m excited to become the mom Caton will need me to be.
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Chrissy Bruns is the Executive Assistant for Indy Maven.
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