(PRESS RELEASE) NEENAH, WI — Jewelers Mutual Group announced the culmination of its charitable campaign, Band Together, for 2020, resulting in $500,000 in total donations to three deserving organizations — Feeding America, Kids In Need Foundation, and Stand Up To Cancer. The amounts donated were based on votes by the company’s personal jewelry policyholders.
“In a year of unprecedented challenges, banding together to help make a difference has been more important than ever before,” said Scott Murphy, Jewelers Mutual president and CEO. “The three organizations chosen are diverse in the causes they support, but all have one thing in common, and that is helping people when they need it most. It was remarkable to see our employees and policyholders come together throughout the past year to support the people and causes they are passionate about.”
Votes were made by Jewelers Mutual policyholders during the voting period.
Based on policyholder votes, Feeding America received $194,000, Kids In Need Foundation $150,000 and Stand Up To Cancer $156,000.
Policyholders’ votes and corresponding Jewelers Mutual donations impacted the three organizations in the following ways:
- Feeding America
- The donation of $194,000 helps provide at least 1,940,000 meals.*
- Stand Up To Cancer
- The donation of $156,000 supported Stand Up ToCancer’s innovative cancer research programs.
- Kids In Need Foundation
- The donation of $150,000 supplied 2,000 students with backpacks, each filled with essential school supplies to begin the new school year.
Jewelers Mutual looks forward to continuing to give back in 2021 and support people in need throughout our community and nationwide. For more information on Jewelers Mutual’s giving efforts, visit here and view this infographic highlighting the past year’s initiatives.
$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America
Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson
When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren.
For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish.
"Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful."
The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing."
Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."
