A Truly Vera Celebration

The finale of the Vera Bradley Classic is the celebratory dinner at Sycamore Hills Golf Club following the Golf Tournament. With a silent auction, delicious meal and other exciting events, it's one of the best tickets in town for supporting the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Exclusive Vera Bradley tennis bags, crafted each year strictly for the Classic.

The Vera Bradley bike; one of the most sought-after items, and so adorable!

This Viva la Vera chair would be a beautiful addition to the decor in my apartment.

This year the Classic went techie. All auction bidding was done through an online system.

One of my jobs for the evening was to teach guests how to use the online bidding system.

The tent decorations were beautiful. Lots of pink, of course!

The beautiful centerpieces looked so elegant that evening (and on my desk the following morning).

Vera Bradley's fearless leaders, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, welcomed everyone and thanked them for their support.

Executive Director for the Vera Bradley Foundation, Catherine Hill, spoke about the advancements in research.

The tent was filled with 1,000 people, all supporting the cause.

A flash mob capped the evening and announced the grand total the 2011 Classic raised.

This year, our annual golf and tennis event raised an amazing $945, 185 for breast cancer research! Each year the Foundation surpasses their goal and the amount that was raised the year before, so just imagine what they will be able to do in the future!

This weekend was the result of lots of hard work and dedication from so many. It was about the cause and making strides toward change, but, for me, it was also an indescribable way to mark my first official weekend as a temporary Fort Wayne resident.

A Weekend of Golf, Tennis, and Plenty of Pink

Every June, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer holds the Vera Bradley Classic, a 4-day event with tennis, golf and celebration dinners, all coated in pink. I volunteered with Foundation intern, Michelle, who was kind enough to work on this post with me.

Tennis Tournament

Stephanie:
On Saturday, 68 teams (136 women) competed for Vera Bradley bragging rights at Wildwood Racquet Club in Fort Wayne. This was my first experience with the Classic, and everyone was so welcoming and sweet. Of course, when you are surrounded by adorable Twirly Birds Pink decorations, you can't help but have a great time. I sold merchandise and handed out gifts to the participants (sunglasses and Totes in Twirly Birds Pink), so I was a pretty popular girl that day.

Some of the participants watching an exhibition match.

Jill Nichols, the EVP of Philanthropy and Community Relations, showing off her tennis skills.

One of the teams, rocking their new Vera Bradley Miller Bags and sunglasses.

Golf Tournament

Michelle:
With Monday came the biggest part of Classic weekend ... golf day! With 113 teams (452 golfers) spread across three tournaments at two courses, we definitely had a lot to orchestrate. The 9-hole tournament was held at Fort Wayne Country Club, and the 18-hole tournament took place at Sycamore Hills Golf Club. Fortunately, we had beautiful weather, amazing participants and a ton of cheerful volunteers.

The day started bright and early around 6 am with one of my favorite activities: Driving around on a golf cart and "Vera-ifying" every hole. I had to hurry so I could make it back to the registration table in time to see all the golfers arriving in their fabulous outfits (arguably the best part of the Classic). It seems when it comes to the Classic, cute outfits are top priority for most, while the ability to golf in said cute outfits is much lower on the list of concerns.

After a few well wishes, all the golfers were off to their start holes, and I believe it can be said with some confidence, a good time was had by all!

A participant looking far more professional than I could ever hope to. Note the pink ribbons!

Just a few of our amazing volunteers working the registration table at Fort Wayne Country Club.

The winners of the most important part of the Classic, the Best Dressed competition!

The VB Intern Life

I'm quickly learning that Vera Bradley's Intern Program consists of much more than just providing future professionals the opportunity to work in various functional areas of the company. In addition to our work, we have each been delegated a summer project, which we review with our fellow interns when we meet periodically, and that we will give presentations about at the end of the summer.

To broaden our knowledge and enhance our presentations, representatives from each area come to teach us about their roles in the company's overall mission. By the end of the summer, we should have a deep understanding of how Vera Bradley functions as a whole. Two weeks ago, we heard from Jeff Blade, Vera Bradley's CFO (and a fellow Butler Bulldog), about the Initial Public Offering, and how that has impacted the company so far. Last week, we met Melissa Schenkel and Susan Doctor from Marketing, for a rundown on branding and the use of media outlets for promotion.

Almost all of the interns – and yes, we did separate ourselves into groups of boys and girls.

Every summer the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce also has a program called Live, Learn, and Intern. Designed to encourage young professionals to explore the city, this program gives people like me entertaining options in a place I don't know very well (since I'm not from the area). Best of all, it's free! So this week we went bowling at Indiana Tech, and as always, the Vera interns had a fabulous time.

Taking a break from the bowling action.

We also gathered for a casual, get-to-know-each-other dinner, which was definitely a success. We talked about work, our projects, our hometowns and, of course, the products we've been seeing that we'd love to have, and the previous weekend's events for the Foundation! Next up? There has been talk of a possible trip to Cedar Point, some TinCaps games and a lot of just hanging out at my apartment with my roommate (a fellow Vera intern). I'll be sure to share our adventures on Behind the Seams!

Dinner at Flat Top Grill.

The Beginning of Something Very Colorful

Hi! I am Stephanie, and I am currently in week two of my dream internship at Vera Bradley. I am working in Human Resources for the summer, and the beginning of my time here has been spent learning about this amazing company, getting to know my coworkers, and adjusting to my new surroundings and schedule.

To help us get acquainted, here is some more information about me ...

This fall I will be a senior at Butler, where I am a Marketing major with a Communication Studies minor. I am a true Indiana girl at heart, since I grew up on a farm in southern Indiana and then transplanted myself to Indianapolis for college a few years ago, and now I am living in Fort Wayne for the summer. Usually, my summer is spent lounging by the pool, going to small-town festivals and showing cattle, but this one will be slightly different ... and I couldn't be any happier! I also love crafting, being social, and of course blogging!

If you followed Behind the Seams last summer, you probably remember Libby, who just graduated from Butler (Congrats, Libby!). Since ours is such a small school, I actually know Libby and read all of her posts. Before I finished my junior year and she moved on to the next chapter of her life, we met up so she could give me some tips for my summer as the intern blogger.

Libby's Blog Survival Guide:

1. Carry a camera everywhere. You never know when a Kodak moment could pop up. My fellow interns came to realize that if I was around, whatever we were doing was going to be on the blog!


2. Think outside the office. The magic happens inside the Vera Bradley offices, but there is more to the company than handbags. I had tons of fun at the Vera Bradley Classic and being in a Fort Wayne parade. It's a great way to meet new people and share the amazing company culture.


3. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether you're brainstorming ideas, proofreading or gathering feedback, learn from the talented people around you! The Web team was awesome and provided me with many entertaining photo opportunities!


4. Last but not least ... Be yourself! Last summer, readers got a true peek at my life, from my work desk down to my favorite shoes!

Libby and I at the Bulldog - A famous Butler landmark!

Big day at Vera Bradley!

Today is a pretty big day here at Industrial Road. Why?

1. It is Web Operations Manager Jason's birthday! His desk turned into a party saloon--complete with cowboy boot confetti and saloon doors! The web team was decked out in western wear (bandanas, cowboy hats, and sheriff badges)... although I think I was the only one that wore it all day...?

Jason, birthday boy and sheriff of the web team.

2. It is the day of the intern presentations! On day one, we were told about our final intern presentations that recap our summer and share what we have been working on. Then we found out that co-founders Barb and Pat, the executive team, the supervisors, and all of the interns will be present... and it was attack of the nerve butterflies!

We spent the morning listening to the presentations. It was very interesting finding out what everyone else has been working on, and how much they enjoyed their summers.

Funny extras: Finance boys modeling their favorite bags, a Sales and Operations version of "The Brady Bunch" theme song, and Product Development skit about a new system.

I decided to present my summer in a blog format. Nissa, a web designer, created another blog just like this one and I posted pictures and captions to act as notes and visuals. I was very, very nervous--but survived! I definitely couldn't have done it without Sarah and Emily's happy faces in the audience and Shannon's scrolling during my presentation.

The web team boys came to watch and then tweeted this Twitpic of me presenting! (Between the blog and Twitter, I seem to be all over the web!)

Vera's birthday: all-day event

The woman of the hour: happy birthday, Vera!

The party for Vera's birthday continued after Tuesday night's VIP event for Wednesday's all-day event. With mini cupcakes, an adorable gift with purchase, and great offers throughout the day, it was one of the best birthday celebrations I have been to! And as always, the Vera Bradley fans were highlights also: I loved working with the amazing Kenwood team, chatting with sweet guests, and I even had a few friends from Indiana come for the occasion!

An outline of the day's festivities!

10am to noon = All in One Wristlet mania!

The first offer of the day was a great discount on the All in One Wristlet--normally $32, but during those 2 hours, it was $20! Before the doors even opened, fans were waiting outside so they could have the first picks. The reasons for the All in One Wristlet mania were pretty varied: bridal party presents, back to campus, Christmas present, and just for every day!

One of the many Vera facts signs around the store--this one is talking about the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer's pledge of $10 million (and plans for another $10 million!)

And speaking of facts, my older brother Andy impressed me with his knowledge about Vera Bradley! His comment on the post about the VIP birthday event:

He is right: Vera Bradley's real name-- Veronica Bradley, and birthday-- August 9, 1909. Someone has been doing his homework!

Intern dinner + celebration + O-H-I-O

Intern Dinner: Wednesday marked the grand finale of the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce's Live, Learn, Intern series this summer. It was a very nice reception at Sycamore Hills (the same site as the Classic dinners), complete with excellent food, special speakers, and door prizes (the VB interns cleaned up: I won a gift card to JK O'Donnell's, and Allegra and Megan each won a Starbucks gift card!).

Sycamore Hills Clubhouse--the venue for the final Live, Learn, Intern event.

I'm not biased or anything, but I think we had the best table! Alicia and Jill, our intern coordinators, entertained us with funny stories of their kids and gave us some inside scoop on Vera Bradley.

Alicia and Jill, human resources extraordinaires!

Celebration: Today marks Heidi Floyd's five year cancer free anniversary. The lovely folks at Production road (shout-out to Foundation intern, Karen!) organized a breakfast to celebrate. Special surprises: a visit from Heidi's adorable family and a new pair of pink shoes!

Congrats, Heidi--mom, survivor, blogger, Twitterer, and ambassador!

The celebration breakfast at Production--all decked out in Loves Me..., of course!

O-H-I-O: This weekend I will be hanging out in the buckeye state for the Frill Fashion Photo Shoot at the Vera Bradley store in Kenwood Town Center. Stop by and strike a pose!

The lesson of the weekend: "Fight Like a Girl"

What a weekend—full of Vera Bradley Classic events! I kicked off my first full weekend in Fort Wayne with Cocktails on the Court at the Wildwood Racquet Club for a tournament, tennis exhibition, and mingling.

I have never played tennis, but the outfits were definitely making me consider it! Spotted: pink polka-dotted skirts, striped pink polos, and flowered headbands. I think Nike should be calling for some design collaboration offers very soon...

Venus and Serena who?

The action off the court was casual and relaxed... with lots of pink!

Creative Marketing intern Allegra catching a bite to eat.

Looking good in Loves Me...

During every summer’s beach vacation, my family and I go to the local club’s tennis exhibition for some family fun, free lemonade, and door prizes. Multiple that one time a year by twenty-one years of age and I am no stranger to tennis exhibitions! But these guys blew those beach bums out of the water—I could hardly whip my head around fast enough to catch the return hits.

Tennis pros with their loyal bag-carriers.

Foundation VIPs, including Catherine in the middle.

During the event on Friday night, I was lucky enough to meet the Foundation's Executive Director, Catherine Hill. I volunteered to help set up and Catherine set me up with a date, time, place, and job! Despite her being super busy over the weekend and very in-demand, Catherine always said hi and stopped to chat. She was the epitome of "calm and collected" every time I saw her!

On Saturday, I expanded my usual Fort Wayne stomping grounds and went to Sycamore Hills Golf Club to help set up for the silent auction. The driveway from the road to the clubhouse was lined in pink ribbons--a great way to welcome the guests!

The Vera Bradley stone outside of the clubhouse.

What a beautiful place!

The dinner on Saturday night, the tennis celebration dinner, was expected to have around 300 guests. The golf course staff went to work setting the tables in appropriate Vera Bradley style, and I helped with the silent auction items.

I loved getting to get a sneak peek at the items up for auction. There was something for everyone: an autographed Taylor Swift poster, hand knit baby “Ugg” booties, gym memberships, a tool set, and even a dozen-a-month Cookie Cottage package! (I have heard the Cookie Cottage winner is quite pleased!)

Pre-Vera Bradley: the beginning stages.

The Foundation intern Karen (wearing a super cute volunteer shirt) with the silent auction ringmaster, Kris.

"Prettying" the tables.

Furniture was brought in to make the space feel very "Vera Bradley".

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with our plans. Saturday morning had several downpours that caused streams and puddles of water inside the tents! Luckily, we were equipped with plenty of brooms and hands to move everything out of the water’s way.

Rain, rain.... go away!

The final table setting!

When the lights went down, the pink came out!

I came back later in the evening for the dinner--all washed, dressed up, and ready to go. The dinner was excellent and the program was even better. First Pat and Barb took the stage and talked to the audience about their friend Mary Sloan, one of their friends who fought breast cancer and became their inspiration for the Vera Bradley Foundation. Barb introduced the audience to Mary Sloan’s daughters who traveled to be able to attend the weekend’s events.

I am very proud to be a part of everything these two ladies have started!!

Beauty and brains: Catherine!

Catherine took the stage and introduced a local high school student who sang "Fight Like a Girl" by Bomshell (to listen, click here). It is such a great song (I downloaded it and have been playing it on repeat...) and the girl did such a good job!

Her singing caused more than a few audience members to tear up...

Dr. Linda Malkas and Dr. Theresa Guise, members of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research Laboratories, gave the crowd updates on the research occurring at the Indiana School of Medicine in Indianapolis. It is one thing to hear about research from a third party, but another to actually have the involved person telling you their latest news. Even from just listening to their short presentation, their passion was evident.

After the presentation, it was time to hit the dance floor! Urban Legend (from the Foundation concert at Jefferson Pointe a few weeks ago) played such a great variety of songs that it was impossible to sit on the sidelines! I even met Barb on the dance floor--she is a much better dancer than me!

Was this taken during "Single Ladies" or "Love Shack"?

On Monday night, I returned to Sycamore Hills Golf Club for the golf celebration dinner. Same time, same place--but three times the amount of attendees! I helped people find their table assignments, and loved seeing the golf teams walk in... again, in cute outfits! There was a prize for the most creatively dressed team, and it was clear that many were trying to win. I spied bedazzled hats, paisley skirts, and, on the winners, pink (and supposedly high heeled) golf shoes!

The highlight of the evening was definitely the unveiling of the final number. Girls of Foundation friends and family came out with numbered signs arranged to read last year's amount, and then shuffled until they came up with this year's impressive number: $800, 275!

The future of the Foundation helped announce the final amount.

...And the crowd goes wild!

Another personal highlight was the opportunity to meet Michael Jordan's mom! Deloris Jordan is a friend of Pat's and was able to come to the end of the weekend events. Karen met her at another Classic event and very kindly introduced me to her! (She is Kind Karen, after all!)

Mrs. Jordan and Karen

I still can't believe it: I am with Mrs. Jordan and Patricia R. Miller!

It was such a great weekend! It was impossible to leave any of the events without feeling energized and fired up to help in every way possible. On my way home, I called my mom and told her to start looking for a golf foursome and planning a cute outfit... she is coming next year!