Rippe's helping Danville Cancer Association

For more than 100 years, Rippe’s has been in downtown Danville and its current president, Benjamin Rippe — grandson of the founder — annually celebrates the business’s success by supporting the Danville Cancer Association’s efforts to help breast cancer patients.

For several years, the store — which carries women’s clothing, shoes and furs — has held a big-ticket gala complete with champagne, a fashion show and a silent auction. This year, Rippe decided to continue supporting the nonprofit, but changed how that is being handled, mainly due to continuing issues with the economy.

“I talked to a lot of my contemporaries around the country, and we all felt this year there are more people needing and hurting,” Rippe said. “It just didn’t seem like a ‘gala’ year.”

Instead, Rippe’s created a small purse — in pink, the color that represents breast cancer awareness — with the Rippe’s label inside, and will be giving one to anyone who donates at least $40 to the Danville Cancer Association. Make a donation of at least $240, and the purse will have a $75 Rippe’s gift certificate in it, Rippe said.

“If you’ve got a women’s business, you want to help women,” Rippe said. “The Danville Cancer Association is one of my favorite charities to help. My father always was generous to the community, too; without the community, we would not be here.”

Rippe said the DCA helps breast cancer patients in a variety of ways — even beyond seeing that those who are under-insured get the medicines they need.

“Some have no way to get to the doctor, or have no babysitter to watch the children while they’re at the doctor, or are just too sick to drive; the cancer association can take care of that,” Rippe said. “Some, debilitated from chemotherapy and radiation treatments, say they are upset that they can’t keep up with housework — so someone comes over and cleans the house.”

Donations can be made by stopping in at Rippe’s, 559 Main St., or by sending the donation directly to the DCA at 2323 Riverside Drive, Danville, VA 24540.

“Of course, I’d like everyone to stop in to the store,” Rippe said with a smile, adding that at the store, cash, debit card, credit card (including a Rippe’s credit card) or check could be used for payment. “But if anyone makes a donation directly to the DCA, they’ll send us a list and we’ll mail the purse out.”

Rippe said he hopes to raise $11,000 for the DCA this year. The purses will be available Oct. 1 and the fund drive will go on while supplies of the purses last.

Rippe said he is very pleased with the current efforts to revitalize downtown Danville and he plans to remain on Main Street.

Over the past five years, Rippe said, the windows at Rippe’s Apparel and Rippe’s Shoes have been redesigned, and the interior has been completed remodeled.

There is new tile and carpeting, most lighting has been replaced and now LED bulbs are being used, more modern shadowboxes outline featured fashions, fixtures have been replaced and even the office has been redone, all with IKEA furniture, Rippe said.

“It has a more contemporary, elegant feeling,” Rippe said.

The project is drawing to a close — new lighting for one area of the store has yet to arrive — and will represent an investment of about $600,000 overall, Rippe said.

Rippe said the remodeling project represents the business’s commitment to Danville and it’s faith in downtown redevelopment plans.

Thibodeau reports for the Danville Register & Bee.