The Valerie Fund's 2025 Young Professionals Network Board Application

The Valerie Fund’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) aims to support fundraising and promote engagement with the next generation of leaders to advance The Valerie Fund’s core mission of providing comprehensive health care services for children with cancer and blood disorders close to home. Comprised of a diverse group of like-minded individuals, the Young Professionals Network hosts a variety of fundraisers and social events that help members and Valerie Fund patients grow both personally and professionally.

If you have any questions about the application, or general questions about the Young Professionals Network, please email Katelyn Weissman at kweissman@thevaleriefund.org or call 630-278-9230. 

Applications close on December 17, 2024
Please contact Katelyn if you miss this deadline or have other questions/concerns. 


Board Structure

• 2 Co-Chairs *5-hour monthly time commitment
• 2 Junior Chairs *3-hour monthly time commitment
• Up to 7 board members *2-hour monthly time commitment
• Advisory Board- Former 2024 Chairs *1-hour monthly time commitment
  • Guide on solicitation
  • Guide on structure/organizing previous events

*Time commitments may vary month to month depending on leadership roles and event timelines.

Calendar- certain events can be moved/flexible and more events can be added if desired.

• January-December:
  Board Meetings once a month.
• February:
  First in person Board Meeting dinner and drinks (funded by The Valerie Fund) Exact Date TBD.
• March:
  Volunteer opportunity for ‘A Taste of Giving’ in NYC Thursday, March 6, 2025
• May:
  First networking event end of May; either in Hoboken or NYC (planned by a board member w/TVF staff)
  Rooftop and/or somewhere fun for 2 hours to engage with others in YPN and NYC/NJ area
• June:
  **Volunteer or participate for the Walk on June 7^th, 2025 Verona, NJ
• July or August:
  A Patient & Family Event like a family day activity or a mentorship or college prep/resume workshop opportunity.
• August:
  Camp Happy Times Visit in Tyler Hill, PA Saturday, August 23, 2025; a bus can be organized to drive YPN members to and from CHT
• September:
  Second in person Board Meeting, dinner and drinks (funded by The Valerie Fund)
• October:
  Second networking event; either in Hoboken or NYC (wherever last did not occur)
• November or December:
  First weekend or second week host a soiree type event. Open bar, DJ/music, and some silent auction items. Ticketed entry much cheaper ($50-$70) and bring a toy for TVF kid at entry. Smaller scale event than gala.

**We ask you prioritize attending this Valerie Fund event. 

Requirements & Expectations

• Commit to a one-year term (from January to December 2025)
• “Give or get” of $1,000 over the course of the year
  • “Give” means you can provide your own personal donations of up to $1,000 in the calendar year. This can be through one-time gifts or setting up a monthly giving plan.
  • “Get” can include sponsorships through companies/family foundations/personal connections and/or the attendance of friends, family, and colleagues at ticketed YPN or Valerie Fund events.
  • To meet your goal of $1,000, the combination of the above can be applied.
• Should have a strong desire to be an advocate for The Valerie Fund’s mission and the children The Valerie Fund serves, including engaging your personal network to attend or take part of YPN and/or Valerie Fund events.
• Contribute to the YPN’s mission by helping to plan networking/fundraising events, improve communication and outreach to young professionals, and help secure corporate sponsorships to facilitate YPN events.
• Personally plan and facilitate with another board member and Valerie Fund staff ONE event during the year
  • Identify and work on one event you would like to plan and execute with other YPN board members
• Attend monthly virtual meetings with the board; attend one of two in person meetings during the year.
  • We understand it can be difficult to meet in person multiple times in the year, so we ask that you attend one of two of the in-person meetings.
• As a board, collectively plan and execute:
  • The YPN Fall Soiree/Winter Soiree date TBD held in NYC or Hoboken
    • A ticketed event at a venue in NYC or Hoboken that can include an open bar, light food, and other activities (e.g., silent auction, photobooth, etc.)
  • 2 networking events throughout the year (e.g., happy hours, speed-networking, etc.)
    • These networking events will provide a casual and fun opportunity to engage your peers and meet like-minded people who have an interest in advocating for and being involved with The Valerie Fund.
  • Fundraising Event (e.g., cycling profit share, ticketed happy hour, toy drive, etc.)
  • Patient & Family Event (e.g., family day with patients and families, networking and resume workshop with scholarship recipients, etc.)
• To fully understand The Valerie Fund and the impact of the services we provide, we highly encourage board members to visit Camp Happy Times in Tyler Hill, PA (Saturday, August 23, 2025).

If you are interested in applying to be a YPN Board Member, please complete the questions below.

Application Questions