More than 200 fundraising professionals from Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire gathered to celebrate National Philanthropy Day on November 15, 2012 during the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northern New England (AFP-NNE) Conference at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe, VT.
After a rigorous nomination and review process, AFP-NNE announced the winner of Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, Leslie Halperin. Halperin, of Burlington, was nominated by the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties and joins an impressive group of distinguished philanthropists and volunteers who are past awardees.
Leslie Halperin is founder and CEO of The Clothes Exchange, a “benefit business” social enterprise that sells pre-loved and new clothing to raise money for community-based nonprofit organizations. Since the first Clothes Exchange was held in her home in 2001, Leslie transformed a clothing swap among friends into one of Burlington’s most well-loved and successful fundraising events. To date, The Clothes Exchange has raised more than $348,000 for organizations including Lund, King Street Center, Spectrum Youth and Family Service, The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, and Vermont Works for Women. In addition to her work at The Clothes Exchange, Leslie is passionate about helping businesses, nonprofits and philanthropists craft creative and meaningful partnerships and strategies to effectively achieve charitable objectives.
“Partnering with the Clothes Exchange was a fantastic experience for the VNA. The energy and creativity of the talented volunteers helped bring our VNA Family Room program to life for hundreds of community-conscious shoppers. I was truly impressed with the commitment to women and children that underpins everything the Clothes Exchange does. Any organization would be lucky to have an opportunity to collaborate with the Clothes Exchange,” explained Ann Irwin, VNA Director of Development and Community Relations.
The VNA is a 106-year-old non-profit home health agency caring for people of all ages – from critically ill children to vulnerable families to adults who need rehabilitation, care for chronic illness, adult day services or end-of-life care. The VNA provides medically-necessary home and community-based care to individuals and families regardless of their ability to pay. The VNA serves over 4,800 individuals and families in Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties each year.