Jewelers for Children, the industry’s charity, has announced their annual board of director elections, including changes in officer positions. Howard A. Sherwood, co-president of Daniel’s Jewelers has replaced Laurence R. Grunstein as chairman. Grunstein concluded his two-year term on Sept. 30.
 
Also elected to officer positions were: Joel Schechter of Honora, vice-chairman and vice president of Charity Programs; Ofer Azrielant of Andin, vice president of Marketing and Public Relations; Edward Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler vice president of Special Programs; Marvin Beasley of Helzberg Diamonds, vice president of Fundraising; Ruth Batson of the American Gem Society, treasurer; and Rachel Wertheimer of JewelAmerica, secretary. The officers of the organization serve as the executive committee, along with Grunstein who serves as immediate past chairman and chairman of the Nominating Committee.  
 
Seven directors were elected to a three-year term on the board for the first time. They are: Rosalind Kainyah of De Beers, Inc.; Ulrich Wohn of Tag Heuer; James De Mattei of ViewPoint Sales and Marketing; Dan Kisch of Instore Magazine; Samir Mehta of Paras Diamond Corp.; John Green of Lux Bond & Green and Whitney Sielaff of National Jeweler Magazine. 
   
Directors re-elected to three-year terms are: Azrielant; Lee Berg of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry; Bridge; Terry Chandler of the Diamond Council of America; Lowell Kwiat, Kwiat; Randy McCullough, Samuels Jewelers; Michael Paolercio, Richline Group; Martin Rapaport, Rapaport; James Rosenheim, Tiny Jewel Box; Matthew Runci, Jewelers of America; Schechter; Elliot Tannenbaum, Leo Schachter Diamonds and Alexander Weindling, Weindling International.
 
Directors whose terms were not expiring, but continue to serve the organization are: Rajesh Bhagat of Kashish Diamonds; David Bonaparte of Reed Exhibition/JCK Shows; John Bosco, HSN; Terry Burman, Sterling, Inc.; Betsy Burton, Zale Corporation; Cathy Calhoun, Calhoun Jewelers; Elizabeth Chatelain, MVI Marketing; Catherine Coquillard, QVC; Dana Duneier, Clyde Duneier, Inc.; Jerry Ehrenwald, International Gemological Institute; Peter Engel, Fred Meyer Jewelers; Susan Fortgang, Fabrikant & Salant; Cecilia Gardner, Jewelers Vigilance Committee; Jonathan Goldman, Frederick Goldman; Efraim Grinberg, Movado Group; Laurence Grunstein, Citizen Watch Co. of America; Howard Hurwitz,  Howard’s Jewelry; Susan Jacques, Borsheim’s; Steven Kaiser, Kaiser Time; Richard Lennox, J. Walter Thompson; Eddie Le Vian, Le Vian; Marvin Markman, Suberi Bros.; Anna Martin, ABN Amro Bank; Dilip Mehta, Rosy Blue; Douglas Meine, Rolex Watch USA, Inc.; Stanley Pollack, G. M. Pollack & Son; Carolyn Pope, Crew’s Jewelry; Arthur Reiner, Finlay Enterprises; Nancy Robey, Pamela Romano, Friedman’s; Glenn Rothman, Hearts on Fire; Jan-Patrick Schmitz, Montblanc North America, Inc.; William Sites, Sites Jewelers; Laura Swan, Kohl’s; Craig Underwood, Underwood’s Fine Jewelers; and Victor Weinman, Tache USA, Inc.
 
Jewelers For Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated nearly $28 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect. This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals, and jewelry consumers.

JCK