(PRESS RELEASE) ROYAL OAK, MI — Gem Legacy, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting vocational training, entrepreneurship, and community development in East African colored gemstone mining regions, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with an online auction of jewelry and gemstones donated by industry gem dealers, jewelers, and marketers who support Gem Legacy.
The proceeds of the anniversary auction will fund the charity’s initiative to put tools in the hands of artisanal miners. Each toolkit costs an average of $125, though the toolkits are customized to the needs of each mine.
“Any member of the industry can bid on these beautiful gems and jewelry donated by our generous supporters,” says Rachel Dery Merisheki, representing Gem Legacy.
The auction began Monday, September 13th and ends Sunday, September 26th at 8pm EST. Bidders can choose to bid in increments or select the “Buy Now” price. Shipping is included in the continental US. Bidding is open here: 32auctions.com/gemlegacy2021.
Auction item donors are: ANZA Gems, Buzz Advertising Agency, Caleb B. Quashen International, Enji Jewelry Studio, Dan Lynch Gems, Debra Navarro Jewelry, LuxeRox, Omi Gems, and Roger Dery Gem Design.
Gem Legacy’s 3rd Anniversary includes a celebration of its work in 2021, funded by donations to the non-profit, which have included to date:
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- 15 scholarships for students at the Arusha Gem Faceting School, who completed a five-month training program in gemology and gemstone faceting. Scholarships were funded by a grant from the JCK Industry Fund.
- 68 miner toolkits delivered to artisanal miners in Kenya and Tanzania, who have no outside funding.
- Two new American-made gemstone faceting machines donated and delivered to the Arusha Gem Faceting School.
- 800+ primary school students’ breakfasts and lunches donated daily at Kitarini Primary School in Longido, Tanzania.
- 10 toilets built for 1,500 secondary school students at Sanawari Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania.
- 11 scholarships granted for orphans to attend secondary school in Mwatate, Kenya.
- $5,000 value of COVID-19 relief deliveries, including non-perishable food, masks, soap, and other sanitary supplies.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
