News

The Path We're On

BY Catherine Hill, Vera Bradley Foundation Executive Director

Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 2, 2008) — 2008 marks the tenth anniversary of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. Even before the Foundation was established, the Vera Bradley Classic had been raising significant funds for five years. Over the past ten years, the Foundation has evolved from an organization focused on a single fundraising activity to a multi-faceted fundraising engine with immeasurable growth opportunity.

Our first two commitments to the Indiana University School of Medicine were fulfilled ahead of schedule. An endowment of $1.2 million to the Vera Bradley Chair in Oncology was fulfilled in 2002, and an endowment of $2 million to the Vera Bradley Center for Breast Cancer Research was fulfilled in 2005. The exciting announcement of a $6.8 million pledge in the spring of 2006 will bring our total giving to the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center to $10 million upon completion!

I’m delighted to report that, despite these impressive sums, we continue to rely on volunteers for the majority of our operational needs. Everything from data entry and mailing to event planning and execution is accomplished in large part through unpaid volunteers. Our small staff of three people is supported by Vera Bradley, along with the myriad talents and resources therein.

In the past two years, we’ve made great progress in fundraising efforts that fall outside of our two major events, the Vera Bradley Classic and Tickled Pink. Supporters from across the country are contributing through direct gifts, but are also hosting their own events to raise funds for the Foundation (see page 137). The numbers speak for themselves. In 2005, our average (non-event related) donation was $88. In 2007, the average gift amount had grown to $154. In 2005, the total number of events outside of our home base in Fort Wayne, Ind., was 33, with a total amount raised of $15,000. In 2007, it was 55, with a total amount raised of $100,911! In addition, the dollars donated by Vera Bradley to the Foundation have increased dramatically as the company continues to generously share the rewards of its own tremendous sales success.

We’ll pause (only for a moment) to reflect on the past 15 years and the incredible things we’ve done together. Then, we’ll move full force ahead because we know there’s still work to be done.