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Non-Profit Celebrates Jewelry Industry Contribution to Developing World, Local Communities.

April 05, 2011, 12:00PM EST

Second Annual “Jewelers That Care” Awards Going To Leading Suppliers, Miners, Manufacturers, Designers and Retailers.

Event Taking Place Saturday, June 4, At 7:00 pm at JCK Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort at 3950 Las Vegas Blvd., Lagoon EFKL on Level 2.

For Immediate Release

Monday, April 4, 2011

Contact: Alethe Clemetson, 718-354-9154

NEW YORK, NY— Members of the jewelry industry continue to mobilize behind a new nonprofit with a global perspective, with key players planning to attend the second annual Jewelers That Care Awards ceremony at the JCK Las Vegas Show on Saturday, June 4, at Mandalay Bay Resort.

Leading Jewelry Industry marketing and branding expert, public speaker and presenter Diane Warga-Arias will be master of ceremonies. Joining her will be Patricia Syrvud, a special guest speaker.  Patricia is founder and creator of Joia Consulting with over 27 years experience working in the gem and jewelry industries. The event will honor four members of the jewelry industry whose personal and professional visions align with Jeweler That Care’s mission to work with and respect the world’s most precious resource: People.

Jewelers That Care’s efforts range from supporting infrastructure projects in the developing world to encouraging jewelers to engage in cause-related marketing so they can both help their communities and build their businesses.

Jewelers That Care’s JCK event is in itself a tool for accomplishing its mission. The cost for the event is $1,500 for a table of 10. Individual seats will cost $225. Tickets to the event are available at www.jewelersthatcare.org and are 100% tax-deductible.

Organizations and individuals receiving awards include:

JEFF COREY OF DAYS JEWELERS, MAINE

For the first time in history, a diamond is sourced, cut and polished in a single African nation so more people of that country are provided the opportunity for a decent job. This is the concept named "beneficiation". Kathy and Jeff Corey are committed to beneficiation, and are doing their part to make it a reality. Days Jewelers promotes the sale of "Made in Botswana" diamonds to their customers.

LISA LINHARDT OF LINHARDT DESIGNS, NY

Lisa Linhardt creates sculptural jewelry with environmental and social conscience. A trained metalsmith, Lisa works in recycled metals, conflict-free stones and insists on tracing fair labor of these stones. Lisa collaborates with female jewelry artisans in Colombia, Kenya and Tanzania. She donates a portion of sales sold from the Linhardt retail store to these communities abroad. Linhardt also designs custom bridal jewelry and donates a percentage of proceeds to send a Maasai girl named Loiman to college in her home country via t he Kenya Education Fund. The two met while walking 100-Miles in Kenya to raise awareness for girls' literacy and educate women about the risks involving Female Genital Mutilation.

ALFREDO J. MOLINA OF MOLINA FINE JEWELERS, ARIZONA

Alfredo J. Molina and his Molina Foundation supports approximately 200 charities every year in Arizona, California and New York, focusing on children, education, diseases and the arts. These groups include Susan G. Komen, AZ Kidney Foundation, Ryan House, Chrysalis, the Boys and Girls Clubs.  In 22 years, along with their time and talents, the Molinas have given over $4 million in money or in-kind donations. In 2005, Mr. Molina was one of eight in the United States to receive the National Caring Award and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans in Washington, DC. 

DONNA DISTEFANO OF DONNA DISTEFANO LTD, NY

Donna Distefano has made giving back a core value of her business. In addition to her fair trade and sustainable manufacturing commitment, she has raised awareness and donations for international outreach charities such as OneKid OneWorld, Women for Women International, the Environmental Defense Fund, and many others.

Jewelers That Care’s vision is to tap into the world's greatest resource: people. Its top priority is to assist those in the developing world by connecting them with independent jewelers and the power of cause-related marketing. Projects planned or underway by Jewelers That Care range from building basic infrastructure, such as water wells in Tanzania to erecting schools and clinics.

Contact information for all of the winners is available upon request, as are photographs of JTC participants, winners and projects. For more information, contact

Alethe Clemetson at 718-354-9154.

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About Jewelers That Care

Jewelers That Care is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, whose mission is to energize development projects, such as building boarding schools and water well epicenters, in rural African villages.  Alethe Clemetson, a Gemologist and jewelry industry veteran, founded JTC in 2007 and serves as its Executive Director.

JTC operates ethically and transparently, adhering to the highest standards of integrity in everything we do. Every project we undertake is closely monitored to ensure our guiding principles are observed and, more importantly, to lend voice to those living in Africa’s villages and rural areas. In addition to its current school and well projects, JTC plans to expand its reach to support cooperative projects with Kilimanjaro Hospital to aid in the treatment of local cases of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.