This year, when Jewelers for Children (JFC) held their annual “Facets of Hope” event on June 3rd, in Las Vegas, it marked an important milestone: it was the 20thsuch event hosted by the organisation.  The journey from the very first Facets of Hope event (known as the Jewelers Charity Fund for Children then) in 1999, to June 2018, has been a long and fulfilling one, the organisation said.

The charity announced that US$ 1.95 million had been raised to support their charity partners in the year ahead bringing the cumulative total since 1999 to US$ 55.5 million that has been donated on behalf of the industry to help children in need.

Starting with a cocktail reception, the event unfolded to include a dinner and, importantly, a special programme honouring various persons contributing to its efforts; as well as some personal reactions from children who have benefitted.

This year the organisation recognised Bill Luth, Executive General Manager/Executive Vice President, Kay Jewelers at Signet Jewelers; and Jeffrey Cohen, President and CEO of Citizen Watch America.

“Guests were also treated to hearing updates from some of the children who appeared at previous Facets of Hope event including Abby, representing St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, who was present in 2004; Paige, representing Make-A-Wish America, who appeared and performed in 2005; and Pamela, representing the National CASA Association, who appeared in 2006,” the organisation enumerated.  “They shared amazing stories of their happy, healthy lives today and how the support of JFC helped them and others like them.”

JFC has donated money to benefit children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect through their charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the Make-A-Wish® America, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the National CASA Association.

JFC also provides support to the Make-A-Wish® International and the Santa-America Fund.

It sums up its activities saying: “The support from the jewellery industry has allowed for more than 1,825 children to be granted wishes in the U.S. and more than 12,000 to have their wish granted in India. More than 18,600 children in foster care have been helped with the support from the jewellery industry and more than 125,000 women have received support at clinics in developing countries. Our support has also provided for a bone marrow transplant unit, a chair in Genes and Genetic therapy and a stem cell transplant laboratory, all providing for hundreds of children to be treated for deadly cancers.”

By 2017, nearly 4,000 companies become part of the industry’s charity.

“This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewellery trade organisations, jewellery and watch manufacturing companies, jewellery retail stores, individual jewellery professionals, and jewellery consumers,” JFC says.