1. TUESDAY,NOVEMBER22,2016 | 18BUSINESSWEEKLY/READINGEAGLE
N O N P R O F I T S
By Carole Duran
Reading Eagle correspondent
Brett A. Mayer, 34, came to
the American Red Cross in
April 2015 as the major gift of-
ficer for Berks and Schuylkill
counties.
“Since then, my role has ex-
panded to include fundraising
for our northeast Pennsylvania
chapter as well,” Mayer said.
He and his wife, Lauren, live
in Birdsboro with their 2-year-
old daughter, Alison. They have
a second daughter due in Feb-
ruary.
In a humorous way, the fam-
ily announced the birth of their
second child by photographing
four pumpkins side by side on
a wall. The smallest pumpkin
simply said “baby.”
Creates relationships
As a major gift officer, Mayer
creates and manages relation-
ships with individual and cor-
porate donors in addition to
writing grants for foundations
with the capacity to give $2,500
or more to the American Red
Cross.
Mayer has worked in the
nonprofit sector for more than
10 years, but his formal educa-
tion is somewhat varied. He has
a bachelor’s degree in music
education from Kutztown Uni-
versity. He is pursuing a mas-
ter’s degree in school business
leadership at Wilkes University
in Wilkes-Barre.
Prior to joining the American
Red Cross, Mayer was youth
program coordinator at Hope
United Church of Christ in Al-
lentown and the former direc-
tor of operations at the YMCA
of Reading & Berks County.
“I started with the YMCA of
Reading & Berks County, where
I was a branch executive, then a
director of operations,” he said.
At Hope UCC, Mayer man-
aged a variety of events, includ-
ing two walks, a gala, a golf
tournament and a hike.
“About two years ago, a friend
came to me who had known of
my YMCA programming past
and asked if I would help with
a local church they knew that
was looking for a part-time
youth program coordinator,”
Mayer said.
He agreed, and became the
program coordinator for Hope
UCC.
“There I was overseeing pro-
gramming for both youth and
adults, in addition to the web-
site and social media,” he said.
“Although I took the position
while working in Allentown for
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,
I was able to continue in this
position when transitioning to
the Red Cross.”
Out and about
Mayer said his roles in non-
profit organizations helped him
prepare for his current position
by putting him out and about in
the community.
“Fundraising isn’t just asking
people for money,” he said. “It’s
building a relationship and
sharing the good work the or-
ganization is doing throughout
the community.
“I’ve had the privilege of
meeting a tremendous amount
of professionals who want to
help in the community. I’ve
been able to be the bridge be-
tween those professionals and
several amazing nonprofits,” he
said.
Mayer has the privilege of
working in a Centre Avenue
building, which he believes is
one of the most amazing loca-
tions in the Centre Park His-
toric District.
“It is from the Victorian era
and the most amazing building
I ever worked in,” Mayer said.
In 1903, Frank Living, a well-
known Reading lawyer, con-
tracted Charles H. Muhlenberg
Sr. to build the house at 701
Centre Ave. It was deeded on
Feb. 24, 1903, to Jesse Hawley,
founder of the Reading Eagle.
Mayer said the architecture
is Jacobethan Revival and that
the style imitates an English
manor house of the late 16th
century.
The style was popular in Eng-
land during the Victorian era
and the U.S. during the ensuing
Edwardian period. Mayer said
the segmented gabled roof and
distinctive chimneys, typical
of the style, can be found in the
house along with smaller paned
and leaded glass windows and
doors.
Doors with rounded arches
also can be found on the first
floor of the building. The
building was sold to Theodore
C. Auman Inc. on Sept. 20,
1960, by the estate of Helen
H. Quier, daughter of Jesse
Hawley.
Because of zoning restric-
tions, Mayer said the building
was unable to be used as a fu-
neral home and then was sold
to the American Red Cross.
Humanitarian network
The Red Cross is part of the
world’s largest humanitarian
network, with 13 million vol-
unteers in 187 countries. Work-
ing together, the organization
helps respond to disasters and
build safer communities.
Each year, the Red Cross
reaches an average of more
than 100 million people across
the globe.
The American Red Cross
Tri-County Chapter provides
programs and services to more
than 1 million residents in
Berks, Chester and Schuylkill
counties. The chapter is part
of the eastern Pennsylvania re-
gion of the American Red Cross.
“Our chapter provides food
and shelter in emergency and
disaster-related situations, as-
sists members of our armed
forces and their families, teach-
es lifesaving skills and so much
more,” Mayer said. ■
Contact Carole Duran: money@reading-
eagle.com.
At the American Red
Cross, Brett A. Mayer
manages relationships
with individual and
corporate donors.
Bridge
builder
The American Red
Cross Tri-County
Chapter
Major Gift Officer:
Brett A. Mayer
Address:
701 Centre Ave.
Phone: 610-375-4383
Website: www.redcross.org
READING EAGLE: LAUREN A. LITTLE
BrettA.Mayer,
majorgiftofficer
fortheAmeri-
canRedCross
ofBerksand
Schuylkillcoun-
ties,atitsTri-
CountyChapter
headquarters
inCentrePark.
Mayersaidhis
rolesinnonprof-
itorganizations
helpedhimpre-
pareforhiscur-
rentpositionby
puttinghimout
andaboutinthe
community.