A Legacy of Love: Laurie Roselle’s Dedication Transformed VIPS Indiana

October 21, 2024

In September 2016, Indiana Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy, Meredith Howell, received an email that said, “I am the Director of Fundraising for the Indianapolis Alumnae of Delta Gamma and we’d like to sponsor a fundraiser for VIPS! We’d love to manage a Trivia Night on Friday, February 3, 2017, with all the proceeds going to VIPS. Would you allow us to do this with you?” As someone responsible for raising money to support Indiana programming for kids and families, Meredith dreamed of emails like this and replied, “Yes!” to this woman she had never met. Little did she know that email would begin an agency-changing journey for VIPS in Indiana as it came from the most incredible woman–the late Laurie Roselle. 

Laurie always had a philanthropic spirit as an alumna of the Delta Gamma Fraternity at Purdue University and the former International President of Delta Gamma. She was committed to the Delta Gamma mission to “Do Good” and because the Delta Gammas have a philanthropic focus on “Service for Sight” to help individuals with blindness or low vision, the pairing of the Delta Gammas and VIPS was a perfect match. VIPS had a long-standing partnership with the Delta Gammas at Indiana University because the chapter had supported the VIPS mission since VIPS services expanded into Bloomington in 2011. Other collegiate and alumnae chapters around the state hadn’t been involved with VIPS–but it all changed once Laurie found VIPS. 

Laurie, along with her Indianapolis Alumnae of Delta Gamma sisters, Laurie’s beloved husband, John, and family would host numerous Trivia Nights–raising thousands of dollars for VIPS. Laurie didn’t stop with Trivia Night as she’d organize additional fundraisers such as Tables That Bloom and an Anchor Auction where she auctioned off her personal belongings–all to benefit VIPS. Laurie facilitated a monthly ‘Lunch Bunch’ group where she and fellow Delta Gammas made sensory exploration items for the VIPS children over lunch. When asked, Laurie eagerly joined the VIPS Indiana Advisory Board and dedicated every ounce of her energy to helping the stories of the kids be told. She began to truly understand the impact of the VIPS mission after volunteering at family events. Laurie was especially good with the VIPS kids who often have complex needs in addition to their vision diagnosis. Laurie didn’t see a baby with challenges, she just saw a child. She’d reassure the parents to learn and relax because she would take care of their little one and she did–as if they were her own. 

A woman with dark hair is leaning on a counter next to various cleaning supplies used as donations to VIPS.

In 2019, when it came time to launch a $2.5M capital and operations campaign to build a Family Resource Center in Indianapolis–Laurie was all in. She knew the families needed a place to find community, resources, connectivity, and peace, and she became determined to make the dream a reality. Unfortunately, Laurie was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS in September 2021. While it was devastating news, Laurie continued to raise funds to see this project come to fruition. In April 2022, the Simon & Estelle Knoble VIPS Family Resource Center opened and Laurie was instrumental in helping us accomplish this monumental achievement. Later that year, Laurie was recognized with a VIPS Beacon Award as an outstanding Individual Volunteer because of her dedication, passion, and commitment to VIPS. 

Sadly, Laurie lost her battle with ALS in August 2024 and the world lost a truly special human being. Laurie will forever be remembered as an unforgettable VIPS champion and our organization will never be the same because of her. 

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