The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) recently held an event at which it bestowed its Diamonds Do Good Award for Community Stewardship to leading diamond miner ALROSA; and its Diamonds Do Good Award for Community Building to the leading independent jewellers that comprise the Luxury Jewelers Resource Group. The Awards were given in the presence of industry leaders, heads of state and foreign dignitaries. These included His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana; the first lady of Botswana, Mrs Neo Jane Masisi and a delegation of senior leaders from Botswana. 

“The funds raised will be used to provide higher-education scholarships and assistance to empower young people living in diamond producing countries and where the diamond industry does business, and to help communicate this ‘Diamonds Do Good’ impact to consumers,” D.E.F. said.

At the function, Botswana Top Achiever student and recent Stanford graduate, Moratwa Chamme, represented D.E.F’s Student Scholars. She said, “This [scholarship] is not just college tuition. To my country, Botswana, it is an investment in its human capital and evidence of the positive impact of diamonds.”  

Like  last year’s first-ever industry “Balloons For Good” appeal, this year too, a similar appeal was made.

The MC of the event was Awards Chair and President of Fred Meyers Jewelers, Pete Engel. The on-site appeal raised an additional US$ 100,000 dollars for D.E.F’s mission.

ALROSA  CEO Sergey Ivanov commented: “We set ourselves an ambitious task, to make ALROSA’s regions of operation develop together with the company by providing employees a good wage, safe working conditions, modern infrastructure and strong social development programmes which have been a key priority of the company since diamonds were first found in Yakutia in 1954.”

The Luxury Jewelers Resource Group  received their  Award for their efforts at fostering positive social programmes in the neighbourhoods in which their stores are located.  Michael Pollak, CEO of Hyde Park Jewelers who accepted the award for the group, said, “I believe this award will inspire other jewellers to [continue to] elevate their business practices to serve their clients and communities in an ethical and transparent manner…when we can foster this spirit among our peers, this represents a win for the entire industry.”

D.E.F. President Anna Martin, who is also Senior Vice President of GIA, closed the evening by saying: “The recipients of this year’s Diamonds Do Good Awards truly reflect the ongoing positive impact being fostered by the diamond industry around the world. Sharing these stories with our consumers is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry.”

Lead sponsors of the Diamonds Do Good Awards included De Beers, the Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Signet Jewelers (Kay Jewelers, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Zales Jewelers), ALROSA, Le Vian, and the JCK Industry Fund.

Pic Cap: D.E.F. President Anna Martin (rt) with ALROSA CEO Sergey Ivanov carrying his Award