D.E.F Concludes a Fantastic Diamonds Do Good Awards
D.E.F Concludes a Fantastic Diamonds Do Good Awards.For Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F), its Diamonds Do Good Awards ceremony held in May turned out to be a record until now. Funds collected at the event will be to give higher education scholarships and assistance to the young living in diamond producing countries and the areas where the diamond industry conducts its business and to convey the impact of ‘diamonds do good’ to consumers.
The event took place on 31st May at the Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas.
Botswana Top Achiever student and a Yale graduate, Opelo Matome, represented D.E.F’s Student Scholars and expressed gratitude for being granted support through organizations like the D.E.F. The Awards evening was assisted by the “Balloons For Good” industry appeal going out for the first time ever. It raised more funds for D.E.F’s mission.
Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers, received a Diamonds Do Good award for his individual initiative to push professional advancement of women. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) of Canada received the award for its responsible diamond mining development policies.
Anna Martin, D.E.F. president and senior vice president of GIA, concluded the evening saying the award recepients ‘reflect the ongoing positive impact being fostered by the diamond industry around the world. Sharing these stories with our consumers is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry.”
Retailers and mining giants were lead sponsors to the Diamonds Do Good Awards. These included Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Signet Jewelers, Dominion Diamond Mines, the De Beers Group of Companies, Le Vian, Rosy Blue, Hearts On Fire and Forevermark.
About the Diamond Empowerment Fund:
The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a global non-profit based in New York City inspired by Nelson Mandela and founded by leaders in the diamond industry in 2007 to empower diamond communities around the world. Its beneficiaries include: the Botswana Top Achievers program providing the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development; The Graca Machel Mandela Foundation supports bringing 20,000 Tanzanian out-of-school youth back to school. Veerayatan,a model for encouraging development of responsible citizens who are educated, have strong integrity and a motivation to give back to their community. D.E.F supports students attending its colleges of Pharmacy, Business Administration and Engineering. http://www.diamondempowerment.org.
