An Industry with a Heart
Diamonds do not just make you look good, they also do good.
The international diamond industry is committed to social responsibility and works collectively to improve and empower the surrounding communities where diamonds are mined and processed. There is also a tremendous bolster to the economies of diamond producing nations. For example, did you know that in Botswana, where GSI has one of our gemological laboratories, the country has kept its mineral wealth and invested it back into clean water and additional resources within its communities? In fact, revenues from diamonds have enabled its government to fund essentially 100 percent of basic education, provide virtually free healthcare, and build the infrastructure to fund additional economic activity!
In addition to fueling economies across various nations of the world, did you know that the diamond industry is filled with various philanthropies? Numerous charitable organizations have been both supported and created by the industry that are doing incredible work to help improve the lives of others. For example, Jewelers for Children – an organization I’m proud to serve as a board member of – was created to help children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect.
Through the generosity of jewelry suppliers, gemological labs, retailers, trade associations, trade magazines, and everyone in between, Jewelers for Children has donated over $56 million to support children in need.
With its partners, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Make-a-Wish, among others, Jewelers for Children granted over 1500 children their wishes in the U.S. and another 12,000 were granted wishes in India. Close to 20,000 children in foster care have been helped, and more than 125,000 women have received support at clinics in developing countries.
Additionally, the talented Aniya wowed us all with her beautiful and powerful voice and treated us to a memorable musical performance. I would not be surprised if we saw her topping the charts some day!
Another example of a powerful jewelry charity is the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), which is a global nonprofit organization whose mission is to support initiatives that develop and empower people in diamond communities worldwide. The DEF has also put forth animal conservation efforts in diamond nations and even created programs to foster female empowerment for girls and women as well as help children at risk. This year at the Good Awards, I was a “wrangler” and helped with the Balloons for the Good Auction. We hit our goal and the money raised went towards the student scholarships programs – and every table had a huge balloon. I wonder if anyone tried to take those home with them after the event!
Additionally, this year I was proud to participate alongside long-time GSI partner Fred Meyer Jewelry in the 26th Annual CASA Golf Classic. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), helps those who have been abused and neglected navigate through the trauma of the court system and helps them find permanent homes in Oregon. This year, I am proud to share that the tournament raised $215,000! These are just a few examples of what our industry does.
The efforts of the diamond industry to ensure that local communities are supported and provided with the tools to be more successful expands beyond economic factors and includes education, healthcare, access to clean water, and other social support. In addition, the industry continues to endeavor to give back to those in need through generous donations, time, and awareness. Every time a diamond sparkles, it is a reminder of the good that the industry has done around the world.
About The Author
Debbie Azar is the Co-Founder and President of Gemological Science International (GSI), one of the largest gemological organizations in the world, and a distinguished leader in the global diamond and jewelry industry. As an executive with extensive knowledge of the jewelry and gem lab industries, her entrepreneurial skills and vision have helped GSI achieve rapid and continuous growth worldwide, establishing 13 leading-edge gemological facilities on four continents. She currently serves on the boards of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Responsible Jewellery Council, and Jewelers for Children, and is a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York. She has been featured in Forbes, Daily Mail, Good Morning America, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fox Business, Fox5, CBS2, BOLDTV, Varney&Co, The Street, and NASDAQ, among others.
