Jewelers for Children, the jewelry industry’s charity, recently committed to donate $4,15 million to charities benefiting children. The official announcement was made on June 5, 2005, at the organization’s annual Facets of Hope fundraising dinner in Las Vegas.

JFC receives generous support from jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals, and jewelry consumers.

JFC’s four charity partners, known as the JFC Legacy Charities, are St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the National CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Association. The JFC board of directors made a commitment to donate $975,000 to each of the four charities.

In addition, $150,000 will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation International to continue funding of wish granting in India, and $100,000 will be placed in the Jeffrey W. Comment Memorial Endowment Fund, named after the late Helzberg Diamonds CEO and JFC board member, to provide for outreach to additional charities that support children.

“The members of the jewelry industry continue to shine in their generosity toward JFC and our efforts to help children. It’s an honor to work with so many outstanding people who are making a real difference,” said JFC Chairman Terry Burman of Sterling, Inc. “Through the efforts of our industry, we have helped countless children with medical research and care, wish granting, and advocacy.”

Through the Facets of Hope dinner and other programs, including JFC holiday cards, in-store collection canisters, Hero for Hope membership, charity golf tournaments, and raffles, the “industry with a heart” has now raised more than $18 million dollars for children who are victims of catastrophic illness, life-threatening abuse, or neglect.

JCK