(PRESS RELEASE) Jewelers for Children has announced that it will be distributing $475,000 to its charity partners this year. This brings the total donated by the jewelry industry to $57.3 million since the charity began in 1999.
“Serving as board chair through this very challenging year has truly shown me just how beloved Jewelers for Children is in our great industry,” said Debra Puzio, board chair. “The support from our donors has been amazing and being able to make these donations this year is truly an accomplishment the entire industry should be proud of.”
The charity will be making donations to their four legacy charities and three additional organizations that have been supported for many years. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive $ 100,000, Make-A-Wish America $ 100,000, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation $ 100,000 and the National CASA/GAL Association will also receive $ 100,000. Additionally, the Organization for Autism Research will receive $35,000, Make-A-Wish India $ 25,000 and the Santa-America Fund $ 15,000.
The annual charity donations are usually announced at the organization’s Facets of Hope event during the jewelry market week in Las Vegas. With the pandemic causing market week events to be canceled this year, JFC is making the announcement in conjunction with the close of the organization’s fiscal year.
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.
