THE VERA BRADLEY STORY
The best stories have the most unexpected beginnings - $500, a ping pong table as a work space, and a bright idea in 1982 has turned into a global success. First neighbors, then friends turned founders Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller were disappointed at the absence of beautiful luggage in airports and decided to create their own. Their friendship and desire to bring beauty to the world continue to remain at the heart of the company.
WHO WAS VERA BRADLEY
Model, mother, hostess and friend. Vera Bradley was the mother of Barbara Baekgaard and even worked for the company, as a sales representative in south Florida, until she died in the early 1990s. She was an exceptional woman and continues to be a point of inspiration for the company. Vera Bradley stores continue to honor her by celebrating her birthday every year.
Vera Bradley’s caring culture is most apparent in our generous giving back programs. In fact we have a whole department dedicated to this work! Our company's primary corporate cause is breast cancer research. Vera Bradley is dedicated to eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
VERA BRADLEY FOUNDATION FOR BREAST CANCER, INC.
Since thier founders Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller began raising funds in memory of their friend and co-worker Mary Sloan, the Vera Bradley Foundation has donated more than $28 million toward a future free from breast cancer. All funds support the talented clinicians and researchers working toward a cure in the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research Laboratories at the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. Through the Vera Bradley Foundation, they contribute to a future free from breast cancer and they invite others who share thier passion for the cure to join us in the effort.