At a catwalk held by family-owned jeweler Le Vian on June 2 in Las Vegas, a billionaire and a waiter became the unexpected stars of the show.
At the company’s 20th anniversary Chocolate Diamonds catwalk fundraiser, Le Vian CEO Eddie LeVian announced that his company would be matching donations for children’s and cancer charities up to $175,000. One donor pledged the full $175,000.
LeVian then invited other smaller donations which came from the floor, with each donor being gifted a balloon and a rose as a thank you.
A waiter, whom the Daily Mail identified as Diego Mario Galietti, suddenly took the roving microphone. Through tears, he explained that he was a single dad and pledged $200 in honor of his father, Luis DaSilva, who had died of cancer at age 55, and in honor of his daughter, who is 7. The 500-strong audience erupted into a standing ovation.
The total raised for charities on the night was $450,000, with Le Vian and a billionaire donor ultimately both raising their donations to $200,000 each.
The billionaire top donor has now offered the waiter a job in his property company. The billionaire donor himself was orphaned at a young age and built himself up from troubled beginnings to become a plumber, a builder and now a property mogul in the U.S. market.
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Charities supported by the fundraiser were Jewelers for Children, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and the Rafa Foundation.
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Closing With Confidence: How Bailey's Fine Jewelry Achieved Outstanding Results With Wilkerson
When Trey Bailey, President and CEO of Bailey's Fine Jewelry, decided to close the Crabtree location in Raleigh, North Carolina after 15 years, he knew the decision needed to be handled with intention and professionalism. The goal was clear: exit the location while maintaining financial strength and honoring the store's legacy.
Having worked with Wilkerson successfully in the past, Bailey understood the value of their comprehensive approach. "They understood both the emotional and financial sides of the store closing sale," Trey explains. "Their reputation for professionalism, results and care made it a very easy decision."
The results exceeded expectations. Wilkerson helped Bailey's sell through significant inventory while maintaining the dignity of the closing process. "They don't just run a sale, they help close a chapter in the best way possible," Bailey says, strongly recommending Wilkerson to any jeweler facing a similar transition.
