Virginia Spiegel (PhD ’90) wanted to do something to celebrate her father, a colon cancer survivor. In 2005, she set a goal to raise $90 for the American Cancer Society by selling fiber postcards online and donating the money to her sister’s Relay for Life team in Minnesota .

The project, which she dubbed Fiberart For a Cause, grew beyond her wildest imagination. In 2007, the American Cancer Society recognized Fiberart For a Cause as the second-largest individual Relay for Life fundraiser in the nation.

With the help of friends, supporters, and art patrons, Spiegel’s organization has donated more than $140,000 to Relay for Life.

“I started making fiber postcards almost full time,” Spiegel said. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger.”

Karey Bresenhan, director of the International Quilt Festivals and a cancer survivor, helped the project explode. She contacted Spiegel about buying a few of the postcards and eventually was communicating with her about setting a goal higher than $90. She even gave Spiegel free space at her quilting festivals to sell the postcards.

“What makes Virginia ’s project so special is you have this extremely talented fiber artist who has given tremendous amounts of her time that could have been spent making art she could sell,” Bresenhan said. “Anyone who cares that much deserves to have the help and support of other people who also care.”

Spiegel said the festivals, which take place in Chicago , Long Beach , and Houston , are “the Olympics” of the quilting world. Some 55,000 people attended the event in Houston .

Bresenhan, who is now an honorary chair of Fiberart For a Cause, said it was amazing to watch how much festival attendees loved the postcards.

“They would consider which one they wanted and, my goodness, did they have to have two and maybe three!” she said.

Spiegel is no longer making the postcards—the artist in her had to move on to a new project.

“It was a great fundraiser, and a full-time job,” she said.

But Spiegel isn’t done raising money for the American Cancer Society. Fiberart For a Cause’s latest fundraising endeavor is an online book, Art, Nature, Creativity, Life. Her website, www.virginiaspiegel.com, describes the book project as featuring 20 thoughtful essays, over 80 photographs, more than 30 haikus, book recommendations, and a behind-the-scene look at the making of art.

To view the book and future updates, visitors pay a minimum $25 subscription fee that goes directly to the American Cancer Society.

“I feel as though I am merely a channel for all the good that people want to do. Artists and patrons donate time, talent, and money for Fiberart For A Cause events and always ask what more they can do. They are amazing,” Spiegel said. “I am inspired by my Dad’s zest for life and humbled by my sister’s dedication to her Relay For Life. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to make a small difference in the world.”