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Diamond Empowerment Fund Gala Celebrates The Good That Diamonds Do | June 03, 2015 (0 comments)
Las Vegas, NV—Top leaders of the global diamond and jewelry industry gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 28 for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.)’s Diamonds In The Sky gala that celebrates diamonds and the positive impact made by the diamond industry worldwide. This year’s gala honored Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India with D.E.F.’s 2015 Global Empowerment Salute, presented for India’s global leadership and contributions to democracy, development and the growth and expansion of the international diamond industry. The evening wrapped with a performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Kelly Rowland (left), who rocketed to fame as part of Destiny’s Child.
D.E.F. focuses on developing the next generation of leaders in diamond communities around the world through access to higher education. Two student scholars who graduated from D.E.F. beneficiary schools enthralled the audience with their personal stories of adversity to success through education. Chantal Uwiringiyimana, one of D.E.F.’s scholars from the African Leadership Academy and currently a University of Arizona undergraduate, said, “Having grown up in a poor Rwandan community, education has been the key to opportunity. I am now on track to become one of the few African female engineers.”
Ashna Mehta, student ambassador for Veerayatan—a D.E.F. beneficiary based in India—said, “Without access to education, the cycle of poverty is perpetuated and difficult to break free from. Veerayatan enables youth to reach their full potential and become leaders and change-makers in their communities.”
Philippe Mellier, CEO of De Beers Group—a co-founder of the Diamond Empowerment Fund—said, “A diamond is a rare and powerful symbol for both those who give and receive one. A diamond is also a powerful symbol for those who work with them. Our diamond communities are committed to furthering the building blocks for long-term prosperity through healthcare, infrastructure, access to education, and employment. De Beers thanks D.E.F for helping make diamond moments by showing the world how ‘Diamonds Do Good.’”
Accepting D.E.F’s Global Salute was Home Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, who said “It is good to know that the Diamond Empowerment Fund is actively working to help create education programs for children and for people working in the diamond industry in India.”
Dignitaries attending the event included David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for Canada’s Northwest Territories; Peter Vician, Deputy Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for Canada’s Northwest Territories; Robert Bouchard, Minister Legislative Assembly for Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nkoloi Nkoloi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations; and Masego Nkgomotsang, First Secretary of Economic Affairs for the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, DC.
D.E.F. co-founder Russell Simmons helped introduce a live auction of four exclusive experiences that brought the evening’s total amount raised to close to one million dollars. These funds will support D.E.F.’s beneficiaries.
Says Phyllis Bergman, D.E.F.’s President and CEO of Mercury Ring, “We are thrilled with the success of the evening and look forward to growing D.E.F.’s mission.” Premier Presenting Sponsors were Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Inc., De Beers Group of Companies, Rio Tinto Diamonds, and Signet Jewelers Limited (Kays Jewelers, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Zales Jewelers). Partner Sponsor was Rosy Blue Group, Patron Sponsor was Le Vian Group, Benefactor Sponsor was KP Sanghvi, and Empowerment Circle Partners included Forevermark, Asian Star, Exelco, and Leo Schachter.
Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-founder and senior strategic advisor of D.E.F.; Phyllis Bergman, D.E.F. board president; Russell Simmons, co-founder; Kelly Rowland, and Nancy Orem-Lyman, executive director of D.E.F.
Separately, D.E.F. and Quality Gold announced a new partnership to distribute D.E.F.’s iconic Green Bracelet to independent jewelers. Earlier in May, New York-based Quality Gold signed on as a distributor of the bracelet to increase participation by independent jewelers.
The Green Bracelet has been seen on celebrities and socially conscious personalities such as Penelope Cruz, Michael Phelps, and Beyoncé, among others, and complements D.E.F’s ‘Diamonds Do Good’ initiative, a social impact program for jewelers to communicate the positive impact of diamonds to their customers. Diamonds Do Good provides online and in-store tools to use and inspiring stories of how diamonds have helped further economic development for individuals in diamond-mining areas. These stories can be accessed through D.E.F’s consumer facing website DiamondsDoGood.com and its accompanying social media efforts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Scott Rauch, president of SHR Jewelry Group and a co-creator of the bracelet, says, “Today’s customers increasingly want to know that the companies they do business with are a force for positive change. Carrying the Green Charity Bracelet in stores will help jewelers communicate how diamonds do good.”
“Quality Gold is proud to support D.E.F and the Diamonds Do Good Initiative and is excited to partner with them to give jewelers the opportunity to access the iconic Green Charity Bracelet, states Cora-Lee Colaizzi, marketing director and senior merchandiser for Quality Gold.
The Green Bracelet was recently redesigned to include two diamond accents to represent the bright future of students D.E.F has supported and will continue to support for years to come. To order the D.E.F Green Bracelets, please contact Quality Gold at info@QGold.com or at (513) 942-7659.