Southern Jewelry News

Jewelers for Children (JFC), the industry’s charity, will honor Ed Hrabak of Sterling, Inc. and Jonathan Goldman of Frederick Goldman at the annual Facets of Hope event Sunday, June 6, 2010 at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  The event, culminating JFC’s fund raising efforts for the year and celebrating the second annual JFC Children’s Day, attracts more than 1,000 industry guests during the JCK Show.   Both Hrabak and Goldman have generously agreed to serve as guests of honor at the event with the responsibility of assisting JFC in raising funds to benefit children who are the victims of catastrophic illness or life-threatening abuse and neglect.  Each year, prominent industry leaders are honored by the charity.

“We are so fortunate to have two such outstanding honorees this year,”  said Ed Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler, JFC Chairman.  “Jonathan Goldman was the first Jewelers for Children chairman and has tirelessly worked for the charity since its inception.  Ed Hrabak has served on our fundraising committee for many years and has always been one of its most outstanding members.”

As part of the JFC Children’s Day celebration, all of JFC’s charity partners will  announce on the same day how support from the jewelry industry has made a difference in the lives of children in need.  The partners have also agreed to help make Children’s Day a media event across the country by generating publicity through their media channels.  Jewelers everywhere will also have the opportunity to participate by utilizing the national event in their own local publicity.  JFC is making materials available for jewelers to use in developing their own in-store activities and templates for local press releases, media alerts and customer notifications.

The festivities will begin with cocktails at 6:15 p.m. in the Palazzo Ballroom on the fifth level of the hotel, with dinner and the program beginning at 7:45 p.m.  Anyone interested in attending or sponsorship opportunities can contact JFC at 212-687-2949 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Details and participation forms are available at the JFC website, www.jewelersforchildren.org.

Jewelers for Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated nearly $32 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect through charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Autism Speaks, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National CASA Association.  JFC also provides support to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation International, and the Santa-America Fund.  This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals and jewelry consumers.