NAME(S) ON TILE: AUDREY BROURMAN
RONN, PAUL AND JEFF BROURMAN
DONOR NAME(S): AUDREY BROURMAN
Audrey Brourman, serving as fundraising counsel for the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania since 1990, directed the Capital Campaign which raised $37.8 million to build the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and $14 million for Endowment and General Operating. As part of the campaign, Audrey established the History Makers Award Dinner, an annual benefit event for the Historical Society, built the 1879 Founders’ Circle membership for major annual donors to 130 members in 1999, and created and established the Business & Industry Council, a corporate membership program to support the History Center.
Born in Los Angeles, California in 1937, Audrey’s mother, Helen Breier, also a Los Angelian, was a vocalist and volunteer for many non-profits which included the City of Hope and Jobe’s Daughter. Her father, Maurice Breier, a chemical engineer and realtor, was born in Albany, New York. Audrey’s grandparents came from Minsk, Russia, Austrio-Germany, and Hungary.
Audrey was the middle child with an older sister, Marlene, and younger brother, Sheldon. From the age of nine, Audrey seriously pursued a musical career as a concert pianist, winning the young artist competition in Los Angeles to perform with The L.A. Debut Orchestra and a scholarship to study at the International Aspen Music Institute.
While attending the Institute, she met and subsequently married Jacques Brourman, a symphony orchestra conductor and violinist. They lived in New Orleans where he served as Assistant Conductor of the New Orleans Philharmonic.
During their 30 year marriage, she bore and raised 3 sons. Ronn Brourman, born in 1962 in Boise, Idaho, Paul Brourman in 1964, Boise Idaho, and Jeff Brourman in 1971, Charlotte, North Carolina.
In 1999, Ronn Brourman, with an undergraduate in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master’s in Business from Penn State University, currently serves as Marketing Director of a hi-tech software company. Ronn is an environmentalist, advocate and supporter of many social and environmental causes. Paul Brourman is Senior Vice President and Creative Group Director of DDB Needham, Chicago, supervising several award-winning ad campaigns. Paul, a serious painter, also has created several entrepreneurial business ventures. Jeff Brourman, is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Ohio State University. Jeff has been published in several medical journals and is involved in heart research. Each son with their own creative and innovative talents adds their entrepreneurial skills to their respective professions.
OVER
During their marriage, Audrey and Jacques created and established the Sun Valley Music Festival in Sun Valley, Idaho, and the Bedford Springs Festival in Bedford, Pennsylvania. They resided in Charlotte, North Carolina and Boise, Idaho.
Audrey performed with the Boise Symphony and Bedford Springs Festival. In 1978, the family moved to Pittsburgh, Jacques’ home town. Audrey continued the fundraising skills she established with their national music festivals by serving as Development Director of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts where she created the first major corporate dinner in Pittsburgh, the Cultural Awards Dinner, and the Bach, Beethoven and Brunch series in Mellon Park. She served as Development Director of Divine Providence Hospital, Public Relations Director of West Penn Hospital, and Director of Development of the Pittsburgh Opera, raising $12 million for their endowment, before establishing her own company, A.L.Brourman Associates, Inc.
Located in the Westin William Penn Hotel, A.L.Brourman Associates, Inc. serves non-profit organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. In addition to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, clients include ARC Allegheny, Allegheny College, The American Ireland Fund, 1999 International ATHENA Conference, Beth El Congregation, Brother’s Brother Foundation, Ecumenical Institute and Religious Cultural Center, Manchester Youth Development Center, Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life, Miryam’s, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Oglebay Institute, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Point Park College, Ripken Museum, River City Brass Band, Shadyside Hospital Foundation, The Library Center, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Travelers’ Aid Society, Vocational Rehabilitation Center, Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center of Lawrence County, and the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh.