JEF 'Enhances Commitment' to the Industry

Staff -- JCK Online, 5/1/2003 2:00:00 AM

The Board of Governors of the Jewelers Education Foundation (JEF) of the American Gem Society has named Dona K. Norris as executive director of the industry-focused charitable organization. Norris previously served as executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewelers Association.

JEF's mission is to advance the skills and ethical standards of the jewelry industry by providing support, encouragement, and leadership to all jewelers to aspire to the highest level of professionalism. JEF's approach to fulfilling its mission includes written courses, a management group, and a speaker's bureau focused on the group's "retail jeweler teaching retail jeweler" philosophy.

JEF was created in 1986 through gifts from the Kaplan family honoring Leo and Lazare Kaplan. JEF also has received donations from Tiffany & Co., Jewelers Mutual, The JCK Shows, the Shirley and Herbert M. Bridge Fund, and countless individuals. For information, contact Norris at (717) 732-8133 or jef@paonline.com. JEF is a charitable organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and all donations to JEF are fully tax-deductible as provided in Section 170 of the Code.