Vera Bella was founded in 2013 by speaker, author, and blogger Melanie Pritchard in order to give girls a place of refuge where they can be empowered through good Catholic formation and Christ-centered relationships. Melanie’s has built a three year program that teaches girls about the beauty of their femininity and their faith. The program consists of virtue speakers, mentors, service projects, and exciting and unique fellowship opportunities. The program meets once a month throughout the school year with a retreat and a culminating event.  Melanie plans to share the program with those around the country who would like to have Vera Bella in their community.

Topics included in the Vera Bella Program are Theology of the Body, Femininity, Fashion, Chastity, Modesty, Charity, Love, Relationships, Truth, Physical Safety, Confidence, Speaking Skills, Beauty, Art, Life Issues, Forgiveness, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, Holiness, Humility and more!

About the Founder:

Melanie Pritchard is the Founder and Director of Vera Bella Catholic Girls' Formation program. She has her Masters in Education: Curriculum and Instruction and graduated  with Magna Cum Laude honors in her bachelors in Secondary Education: English. Melanie was a high school English teacher,  a college professor teaching Education courses, an Education Director for a non-profit, and an Assistant Headmaster at a preparatory academy. In addition, she has spoken nationwide to thousands of people at many churches, schools and organizations about modesty, chastity, dignity of life issues, and marriage. Previously, she was a board member for Phoenix Natural Family Planning, serving for five years. In 2000, to help people send positive messages with their clothing, she created a clothing line called “Refuge Clothing Co" which has now dissolved into the Vera Bella clothing line. In 2010, The Catholic Physicians Guild of Phoenix honored her with the “Evangelium Vitae Award.” In addition, in March 2007, the Phoenix Business Journal honored her with “The 40 Most Successful People Under 40 Award”. She has starred in two national commercials, has spoken on several radio stations and has written her own book called, The Day I Died about her survival after suffering an amniotic fluid embolism. For more about Melanie or to read her blog, go to www.melaniepritchard.org.