Diane Cameron Pascone

Diane Cameron Pascone serves as Director of Development at Unity House in Troy, a $30 million nonprofit. Unity House is a human services agency serving those living in poverty, victims of domestic violence, adults with serious mental illness, and children. She leads the team responsible for fundraising, communications, and community relations.

Ms. Pascone’s career began at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. She went on to work as a Development Director and Executive Director for several nonprofit organizations in the arts, human services, health care and education for more than 37 years. She has an outstanding reputation for her dedication to and compassion for helping those who are struggling.

An award-winning writer, she is the author of three books: Out of the Woods, a guide to longterm recovery; Looking for Signs, a collection of essays; and Never Leave Your Dead, a history of military trauma, murder, and madness. Her TEDx Talk is based on a true story and is also titled "Never Leave Your Dead."

Ms. Pascone often writes about the history and politics of addiction and mental illness and is a columnist for the Albany Times Union. Her work has also been published in several other newspapers across the United States.

Having weathered many challenges and tragedies in her life, Ms. Pascone has transformed each of those experiences into service for others. Cancer and caregiving led to her blog “Love in the Time of Cancer” and her class on “Caregiving 101.” Her personal experience with addiction and recovery resulted in her recovery coaching, mentoring hundreds of women, and teaching families and groups. Her experiences with military trauma in her family led her to advocate for veterans, and especially the United States China Marines.

Ms. Pascone is a fierce advocate for family caregivers and for people living in poverty. She and her husband, David, live in Guilderland.