Helzberg Diamonds has awarded the $10,000 grand prize in its Helzberg Heroes Contest to Staff Sergeant Theresa Allen from Vail, Ariz.

Allen will receive a $10,000 Helzberg Diamonds gift card. She is an active-duty military member based at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Helzberg Heroes contest asked military members and their families to share their best “I Am Loved” stories on a company website. 

Sgt. Allen’s grand-prize winning story explained how she and her now-husband used listening, encouragement, and love to stay connected when military service kept them apart. Her entry is featured on the company’s Facebook page.

“Military support is an important part of Helzberg’s heritage,” said Beryl Raff, chairman and CEO of Helzberg Diamonds, in a statement. “More than thirty years ago, the company showed support for soldiers serving in Southeast Asia by sending them our iconic ‘I Am Loved’ buttons. This new Helzberg Heroes program extended that tradition and gave us the opportunity to show our love and appreciation for military members and their families.”

JCK