When Cindi Rottermond heard news of the oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico last year, she wanted to find a way to help. Rottermond,
the co-owner of Rottermond Jewelers in Milford, Mich., and her staff
brainstormed ways to raise money for the cause.

Last fall, the jewelry store joined forces with the Ocean
Conservancy, a national organization dedicated to helping protect the oceans,
and offered “Ocean” watches for $24.95. Forty percent of the proceeds are
currently being donated to the Ocean Conservancy.

“Our goal was to raise $10,000 and we met our goal, so we
were very excited about it,” Rottermond tells JCK.

Photo courtesy of Rottermond Jewelers

Rottermond has a longtime connection to water. She has been
diving since 1987 and a supporter of the Ocean Conservancy since 2002. “When
the oil spill happened we paid attention to the coverage,” she says.

“We couldn’t really take off our jobs and go down there. The
Ocean Conservancy is a level-headed organization that provides help to our
environment.”

The watches are available in 16 different colors and
Rottermond says response to the cause has been positive. “Everybody loved the
watches,” she says. “No matter where you live or what you do for a living, you
can figure out a way to help save oceans.”

It took six months to reach the donation goal of $10,000 and
Rottermond cites the staff’s hard work in obtaining the goal. “Everyone sold
them with a passion so I think that’s what helped us achieve our goal.”

The staff wore T-shirts at a local fair event in Milford
promoting the cause and selling the watches.

Rottermond says the store will continue to sell the watches
online and plans to make another donation to the Ocean Conservancy. “We haven’t
established a new goal,” she says. “But there’s still a lot of work that needs
to be done in the Gulf.”

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