Vera Bradley co-president to speak at next Foundation breakfast
FOR RELEASE: Monday, February 3, 2003
Huntington, Ind. " Pat Miller, co-president and co-founder of Vera Bradley Designs, will be the guest speaker at the next Huntington College Foundation Breakfast on Wednesday, February 12. She will discuss the motivations behind starting this very successful and recognized business. The public is cordially invited to attend. Breakfast will be served at 7:45 a.m. in the Habecker Dining Commons. The program will conclude by 9:00 a.m. The cost of the breakfast is $6 per person. First-time guests are not charged. For more information about the Huntington College Foundation's breakfast series, please visit www.huntington.edu/foundation.
The Vera Bradley Designs Company, located in Fort Wayne, Ind., manufactures cloth luggage, handbags, travel accessories, clothing and home accessories. The company employs approximately 90 persons. In June 1998, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer was established. Along with the establishment of the Foundation, Vera Bradley pledged $1.2 million to endow a Chair in Oncology at the Indiana School of Medicine.
Pat Miller serves on the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Board of Directors, the Indiana University Foundation Board of Directors, Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, Fort Wayne Sports Corporation, Fort Wayne Community Foundation, Leadership Fort Wayne and Junior League. She was the co-founder of the Vera Bradley Classic, an amateur golf and tennis tournament benefiting breast cancer research. In the six years since its inception, the Classic has raised over $2.4 million.
In 1999, Miller was awarded the Helene R. Foellinger Award and The Ove Jorgensen Spirit of Leadership Award. Past awards include Indiana Business Leader of the Year (1997), Honoree of Beta Gamma Sigma at Indiana University/Purdue University (1997), Kappa Delta National Sorority Woman of Achievement (1997), Indiana Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year (1997), Sustainer of the Year, Jr. League of Fort Wayne (1996-97), Venture Club of Indiana (1988), and Arthur Young/Venture Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year (1987).
Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. US News & World Report ranks Huntington among the Top 10 comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana.
