News

How to find time to give back

BY Amanda Parker, Corporate Communications Specialist

Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 22, 2009) — Everyone has good intentions of giving back whether by donating time, money or goods, but life sometimes gets in the way. The good news is that you don’t need a whole lot of time to give back to something you believe in passionately. Whether you have one minute or one day, you can be a part of something that will help a cause (and you!) for a lifetime!

1 minute: Fuel Up
Cancer treatments can often lead to costly trips to see specialists all over the country. The next time you are filling up your tank, pick up a gas card. Programs such as Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana allow you to send in gas cards to help provide support to cancer patients. (Learn more at cancer-services.org Find a program in your neighborhood through the American Cancer Society at cancer.orgenter your zip code in “Find ACS in Your Community.”

5 minutes: Donate Online
Support the cause by making an online donation to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer at verabradley.org With the click of a button you can help support research and research-related projects through the Foundation.

45 minutes: Get Screened
Be a good influence on the women and girls in your life and take 45 minutes for your yearly mammogram. The exam can help detect cancer up to two years before a patient or doctor can detect a lump. And there are local programs, such as Francine’s Friends in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that offer low-cost or free mammograms. Contact your local health department for programs in your area.

2 hours: Volunteer to Carpool
Get your GPS ready. There are many cancer patients nationwide who don’t have the means to transport themselves to and from treatment. That’s why organizations such as Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana offer free transportation for those who need it most. Find a nearby service at cancer.org.

5 hours: Lace Up Your Sneakers
Walk for your health and support breast cancer research by participating in a walk, run or other sporting event to benefit the cause. There’s at least one in nearly every city in the country!

1 day: Tee Off
The Vera Bradley Classic Women’s Golf and Tennis Tournament has been raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research for the past 15 years. More than 1,400 supporters come together to make this event a success annually and it has hit the $1 million mark for the last two years. The event is held over three days. Pick your day and volunteer at a hole during the Golf Tournament or work behind the scenes by helping to set up the silent auctions. To sign up, visit verabradley.org and click on “Support the Cause.”