Foundation Completes $37.5 Million Pledge
Through money raised from the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Classic and other donations, we announced on Monday, September 20 that we are donating $1,500,000 to the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research. This donation completes our pledge amount of $37.5 million in support of breast cancer research.
The funds we raise directly impact and allow for advancements in research discoveries at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Laboratory research at the Vera Bradley Foundation Center focuses on the most difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer to increase survivorship. Teams of researchers are also dedicated to improving prevention strategies and developing new treatments and survivorship interventions for all types of the disease. Current areas of focus:
Therapies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer are being designed to treat multiple genetic drivers within each tumor.
A new area of research will allow researchers to charge up the body’s immune system to fight breast cancer with immunotherapies that kill cancer and prevent its recurrence.
Prevention strategies include studying how breast cancer develops so that molecular signals that herald the development of tumors can be identified and blocked.
Survivorship researchers imagine what life should look like for patients from diagnosis forward so that care teams can be proactive about treating and preventing short- and long-term side effects of cancer therapy.
“If we’re successful with immunotherapy in triple negative breast cancer, it means a chance for a cure,” said Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Kelvin Lee, MD.
Due to the coronavirus and scheduling changes, this was the first year the Classic was held in September, a great segue into October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In October, we have our Turn the Town Pink campaign planned, along with another big announcement that will directly impact advancements in breast cancer research.
“The Vera Bradley Foundation has been instrumental in this team effort from the beginning. They enable us to move the needle to make this a better world for our breast cancer patients.”
The multi-day Classic event, held in Vera Bradley’s hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, features the largest women’s amateur golf charity event in the nation. The event also included an inaugural Mixed Doubles Pink Pickleball tournament, along with a Women’s Doubles Pink Pickleball tournament.
For more information and updates on the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram @verabradleyfoundation.
Results from All Classic Tournaments are Below
9-Hole Golf Results
Orchard Ridge Country Club
Front Nine – Par 36
1st Place – 32
Taylor Beatty, Nancy Boyer*, Jennifer DeGroote, Katie Yamelle
2nd Place - 34
Lori Hansen, Erin Hess, Cheryl Milligan*, Jill Mueller
3rd Place - 36
Jana Hall, Marsha Lyons, Stephanie Roberts, Kaye York*
4th Place - 36
Stephanie Delagrange, Stephanie Hartman, Hope Snyder, Emily Wagner*
* Denotes Team Captain
** Ties broken on backup
Back Nine – Par 35
1st Place - 33
Katie Brown, Jane Fink, Martha Opoien, Eunice Wert*
2nd Place - 34
Gayle Bloom, Jane Jorgenson, Jamie Watson, Leslie Wright*
3rd Place - 35
Donna Doeffler, Stephanie Dusza, Angela Friedrich*, Cindy Swift
4th Place - 35
Cathy Fisher, Dawn Hendricks*, Zorana Luellen, Jane Mote
* Denotes Team Captain
** Ties broken on backup
Proximity Prize Winners
Putting Contest Winner – Stephanie Roberts
Front Nine
Straightest Drive – Erin Hess
Longest Drive – Alyssa Bailey
Closest to the Pin – Taylor Beatty
Back Nine
Straightest Drive – Kristen Pine
Longest Drive – Jamie Watson
Closest to the Pin – Gail Burns
18-Hole Golf Results
Fort Wayne Country Club, Par 71
1st Place – 62
Lisa Gellar, Patty Kelley*, Connie Middleton, JJ Shim
2nd Place – 63
Beth Bergeron, Doreen Davie, Jean Hershberger*, Lori Stinson
3rd Place – 64
LeeAnn Brennan, Sue Ekdahl, Kathi Honig, Heidi Lang*
4th Place – 64
Heath Biggs, Kristin Dixon*, Kathryn Schau, Kristen Terrell
5th Place – 65
Jane DeHaven, Wendy Moyle*, BethAnn Riecke, Rennae VanHorn
6th Place – 65
Kristina Bergmann, Linda Carlton, Danielle Gesquiere*, Andrea Rouland
7th Place – 66
Sally Aichele, Cindy Masten*, Jennifer Mayer, Kathy Summers
8th Place – 67
Sueanne Gilroy, Kristina Cashman Godina, Pat Miller*, Sanders Miller
* Denotes Team Captain
** Ties broken on backup
Proximity Prize Winners
Straightest Drive - JJ Shim
Longest Drive - Andrea Rouland
Closest to the Pin - Sueanne Gilroy
Putting Contest Winner - Amy Stock
Mixed Doubles Pickleball Results
SportONE Parkview Fieldhouse
2.5 Division
1st place – Aura Moorman, Gary Moorman
2nd Place – Danielle Karr, Sean Karr
3.0 Division
1st place – Jill Nichols, Grant Goeglein
2nd Place – Nicole Mills, Bill Mills
3.5 Division
1st place – Lisa Vedder, Asim Mohammed
2nd Place – Natalie Rahrig, Aiden Elizondo
4.0+ Division
1st place – Sally Smithley, Gabe Lopez
2nd Place – Sarah Rahrig, Brad Keinsley
Women’s Doubles Pickleball
SportONE Parkview Fieldhouse
2.5 Division
1st place – Cathy Diamente, Misha Thomas
2nd Place – Julie Gabriel, Katie McAllister
3.0 Division
1st place – Cindy Bolinger, Tiffany Stonebreaker
2nd Place – Shannon Shelton, Phyllis Smith
3.5 Division
1st place – Joan Deschaine, Lisa Vedder
2nd Place – Claire Marks, Glenda Hayworth
4.0+ Division
1st place – Sarah Rahrig, Natalie Rahrig
2nd Place – Jane Held, Charleen Lord