Alumni

Grad Selected as Tory Burch Foundation Fellow To Grow Her Business Vital Pet Life

Donie Yamamoto, who received a degree in Apparel Industry Management from FIDM in 2017 and is the founder of Vital Pet Life, a premium pet supplements company that uses natural ingredients, was selected by the Tory Burch Foundation for their Fellows Program. 

The Fellows Program provides women entrepreneurs a community of support to connect, learn, and grow their businesses. Donie, one of 50 women selected for the program, initially started her business, Vital Pet Life, because her dog, Tuxedo (Tux), had rough, dry, and coarse hair. "After doing some research, I learned that adding some salmon oil to his diet would help soften his hair and relive his itching, joint pain, and inflammation," she said. 

Donie and her husband started Vital Pet Life in their living room with a dream of helping other pets and their humans. Two years later, they are preparing to launch their third project. Her top three goals include putting pets' welfare first, fostering and growing their community of customers, vendors, and wholesalers, and giving back to their local community in L.A. and the Philippines, where Donie is originally from. "I believe that all animals deserve loving, compassionate and caring homes," she said.

From June 3, 2019 to June 6, 2019, the fellows will make a trip to Tory Burch Offices where they'll participate in a four-day workshop series. Their one-year fellowship with the Tory Burch Foundation also includes access to their online peer-to-peer network of women entrepreneurs and resources and includes a $5,000 grant for business education. A smaller group of selected fellows will be invited to pitch their business to industry influencers. 

Learn more at vitalpetlife.com

Categories:  Apparel Industry Management Alumni International