Brinker’s Jewelers in Evansville, Ind., is awarding $40,000 to local charities in honor of its 40th anniversary.

Founded in 1972 by Roland Brinker, the family-owned store has sold fine jewelry to generations of customers.

“My grandfather started the business with $2,000 and a 500-square-foot area,” Kyle Brinker, CFO of Brinker’s Jewelers, says. “Now the store has grown to almost 1,300 square feet.”

In honor of the anniversary, Brinker’s has invited its fans to vote for their favorite charity on the store’s Facebook page. “We realized that integrating the promotion with social media would be a great way to draw attention to important charities,” says Kyle.

Voting will begin on Aug. 1 and run throughout the month. The top charity will receive $10,000 and the second highest vote-getter will receive $5,000. Brinker’s will donate $2,500 to each of the remaining 10 organizations.

“We’ve always tried our best to support the community and help raise money for schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations,” says Kyle. “This year we want to give back as a way to say thank you for 40 years.”

JCK