(PRESS RELEASE) ROYAL OAK, MI – Gem Legacy has completed its goal to send the 11 orphans of Mwatate Children’s Home who did not have funding to return to school this fall back to school. The $550 fee per child has been sent to Kenya and this week 11 children will return to their classrooms for the 2019-2020 school year. Secondary school in East Africa is not paid by the government and school fees are a large burden on orphanages and children’s homes.
The Mwatate Children’s Home houses over 30 children, age 5-18, in the region of southern Kenya where Tsavorite Garnet is found. The children are all orphans or do not have a family to live with for various reasons and the home supports them mentally, emotionally, and physically. The Home seeks to ensure that the orphans are equipped to flourish as adults when they leave the home.
“I know firsthand the role education plays in future success and I am proud of us, our industry, for stepping up and giving an education to nearly a dozen orphans who wouldn’t have the ability to gain an education otherwise,” said Roger Dery, executive director of Gem Legacy. “I’m thankful for the greater global gem and jewelry community rallying to ensure that these orphans have the best education available to them. This is the power of our industry working together!”
Supporters can continue to contribute monetarily to the Mwatate Children’s Home for home furnishings or donate children’s books, which allow the kids to practice their knowledge of English in the evening (up to grade 8 reading level). For more information about Gem Legacy or to donate, please email info@gemlegacy.org or visit gemlegacy.org. To learn more, follow Gem Legacy on Instagram @thegemlegacy and on Facebook @thegemlegacy.
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.
