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Vera Bradley turns the town pink

BY Melissa Schenkel, PR Representative

Fort Wayne, Indiana (May 7, 2008) — Headwaters Park and downtown Fort Wayne will be blushing with color on Friday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. as the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer and many downtown businesses “Turn the Town Pink.” The Honorable Mayor Tom Henry, Lutheran Hospital CEO Joe Dorko and Vera Bradley Co-Founder Pat Miller will kickoff festivities at Headwaters Park, downtown Fort Wayne.

“The purpose of Turn the Town Pink is to unite the Fort Wayne community in raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research,” said Catherine Hill, executive director, Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. “For the past five consecutive years, ribbon gifts have grown, and we are confident this will be our best year yet.”

An estimated $310,000 has been generated over the past 10 years from ribbons. An average ribbon gift is only $18, illustrating the power of smaller donations.

“As a primary sponsor since the awareness and fundraising campaign began 11 years ago, Lutheran Hospital proudly continues the tradition Vera Bradley has established,” said Dorko. “With the opening of the Lutheran Cancer Center last September, we are positioned better than ever to provide complete cancer care in one building to simplify the on-going care that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis. Lutheran’s motto ‘Hope Is Happening Here’ rings true daily and extends beyond our campus throughout the community as so many lives are impacted by cancer.”

Many Fort Wayne businesses are getting involved by collecting donations inside their businesses, encouraging employees to wear pink on May 9, or by donating a portion of the proceeds from sales on May 9 to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department will also turn the Freimann Square fountain pink using special lighting.

Volunteers will hang ribbons beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at: Freimann Square, City County Building, Courthouse Green, One Summit Square and eventually all Vera Bradley Golf & Tennis Classic venues. Each of the ribbons will have a name on it in honor or in memory of a loved one. Ribbons may also be purchased to encourage and support loved ones to conduct monthly breast self-exams, have clinical breast exams or mammograms annually or to demonstrate your own commitment to stay proactive.

For a $5 donation, the public can purchase ribbons on-site at Headwaters park Friday morning or may visit turnthetownpink.org to purchase ribbons throughout the month of May.

Turn the Town Pink Ceremony Agenda
May 9, 2008
Headwaters Park
10:30 AM
Master of Ceremony Barb Richards

Welcome
Mayor Tom Henry

Opening remarks
Catherine Hill, Executive Director Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer

Comments
Joe Dorko, CEO Lutheran Hospital
Beth Goldsmith, survivor

Closing remarks
Patricia R. Miller, Vera Bradley Co-founder

About the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer: The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer is celebrating its 10th year of funding breast cancer research. With the endowment of a Vera Bradley chair in oncology, Dr. Linda Malkas at the Indiana University Cancer Center and more than $10 million pledged to breast cancer research, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer is doing its part to eradicate breast cancer. The Foundation receives funding through the sale of Vera Bradley breast cancer awareness designs, special events by retailers across the nation and through donations on verabradley.org.

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