Nov 16, 2018

Gift for Life to honor Vera Bradley’s Barbara Bradley Baekgaard

Gift for Life will honor Vera Bradley co-founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard at the 27th Annual Party for Life. Bradley Baekgaard will be presented with the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bradley Baekgaard co-founded the company with neighbor and friend Patricia R. Miller after being disappointed at the absence of beautiful luggage in airports.

As a company, Vera Bradley has committed itself to several philanthropic causes. Bradley Baekgaard and Miller created the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer in memory of their friend, Mary Sloan, who lost her battle with the disease. The foundation recently announced current year donations of $2.2 million, bringing the total raised to date to over $32.5 million. Funds raised solely support the groundbreaking research being conducted at the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana

Vera Bradley also matches employee contributions to local United Way agencies and other non-profits nationwide. The company’s Volunteer Time Off program encourages employees to apply their time and talents at a non-profit mission of their choice on paid company time one day per year. In all, Vera Bradley donates product and dollars to more than 3,000 causes annually.

The 27th Annual Party for Life will be held Feb. 4 in New York City. Proceeds will benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit partyforlife2019.splashthat.com.