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Dillon, CO-- Jewelers for Japan, a new charitable organization, is asking jewelers and consumers around the country to donate scrap gold, silver, gold-filled, platinum, and palladium jewelry, to help victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Through an agreement with Rio Grande, Jewelers of Japan has arranged for donated scrap jewelry—in lieu of cash donations—to be refined and converted to cash without a refining fee.

Jewelers can view the “programs” portion of the site to see how they can participate in-store. All proceeds are sent by Rio Grande directly to the American Red Cross, to help in its Japan relief effort. The initial goal is to raise $1,000,000.00 million dollars to go directly to helping the people of Japan.

The effort is co-chaired by Julianne Paulsen, CEO of Viaggio Bracelet, and jewelry industry online pioneer Jacques Voorhees, of VeriChannel LLC in Colorado. Actress, author and living green expert Mariel Hemingway along with partner, actor, and healthy living expert, Bobby Williams, have joined the effort as ambassadors. Kevin DeSoto, a media and public relations strategist, and Andrew Max Link, an Internet technical specialist of BrandMini, are volunteering their services as well.

In addition to seeking donations from jewelers alone, the organization's website also provides step-by-step advice on how jewelers can arrange donations from their local community, via an outreach program that invites consumers to donate unwanted gold and silver jewelry and more through their local retail jewelry stores.

"We're hoping the campaign goes viral," said Voorhees. "To make it happen, we'll be harnessing online social media with Facebook, and Twitter campaigns to spread the word." 

"We're very happy to be part of such a worthwhile effort," said Alan Bell, owner of Rio Grande. "Whatever we can raise through the Jewelers for Japan effort, we know it will be well-received."

Contact Julianne Paulsen, co-chair, (218) 929-2100, or
Jacques Voorhees, co-chair, (970) 393-2994.