Jewelers for Children (JFC), founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewellery industry with the aim of helping children in need, has announced that it will be honouring Philippe Mellier, CEO of De Beers Group; and Scott Burger, CEO of Pandora Americas; at their annual gala, Facets of Hope.  The gala will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2015  at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. 

“Philippe and Scott are so well deserving of this very special honour,"  said Ruth Batson of the American Gem Society, JFC's chairman.  "Their commitment to giving back, particularly when children are involved, is commendable!”

The event is held to celebrate the success of JFC's fund raising efforts for the year and the commitments to the charity partners are also announced at the event. 

“Both Mellier and Burger have agreed to serve as guests of honour at the event with the responsibility of assisting JFC in raising funds to benefit children who are the victims of catastrophic illness or life-threatening abuse and neglect,” JFC said in a note.

Those  interested in attending or sponsoring can contact JFC by emailing the organisation on info@jewelersforchildren.org. Details and participation forms are available at the JFC website,www.jewelersforchildren.org. 

Since its inception, JFC has donated more than $45 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect through its charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Make-A-Wish® America, and the National CASA Association.  JFC also provides support to Make-A-Wish® International, and the Santa-America Fund.  “This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewellery trade organiations, jewellery and watch manufacturing companies, jewellery retail stores, individual jewellery professionals and jewellery consumers,” the organisation acknowledged.