Royal Asscher’s academy generates revenue from the sale of its Stars of Africa line of fine jewelry and aims to establish education, healthcare, microeconomic and self-sufficiency programs in Africa’s diamond-producing areas.

Stars of Africa by Royal Asscher® is a collection of rings and pendants comprised of diamonds encased in a fluid-filled natural sapphire dome, allowing diamonds to fall freely like snowflakes in a snow globe. The result is cascading diamonds, which emit light, fire and beauty as they move like little falling stars; the effect is mesmerizing! The collection is available in white, yellow and rose 18K gold and has holds 0.50crt. to 1.84crt. of diamonds.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STARS OF AFRICA

Lita Asscher pictured with the Kids in Sierra Leone.

Lita Asscher, the president of Royal Asscher of America, noted that “The partnership with the Diamond Empowerment Fund will allow us to enrich the African Leadership Academy by providing students with the opportunity to gain an education in areas of leadership and entrepreneurship that will prepare and propel each exceptional mind to support their continent. Giving students the tools to become ethical leaders, Star of Africa will help D.E.F. and the ALA to develop political stability and economic development in diamond-producing countries.”

D.E.F.’s executive director, Ellen Haddigan, said that the support of Royal Asscher would further D.E.F.’s goal to partner with industry leaders on empowerment through education.

From l-r, Scott Rauch, Sally Morrison, Russell Simmons, Ellen Haddigan and Lesego Mathware.

On Friday, January 11, 2008, Scott Rauch, President of Simmons Jewelry Co., presented on behalf of Simmons Jewelry Co. a donation in the sum $311,535.00 to the Diamond Empowerment Fund™ (D.E.F.). The Diamond Empowerment Fund, founded by Russell Simmons upon his return from Africa last year, is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to empowerment in Africa through funding education programs in African countries where diamonds are a natural resource.

De Beers/ The Diamond Trading Company

Simmons Jewelry Co. Team

Simmons Jewelry Co. team. From l - r, Allyson O

Diamond Empowerment Fund extends enormous thanks to the Simmons Jewelry Co. for their recent donation of $311,535.00 raised through the sale of Green Bracelets. We are thrilled to have the Simmons Jewelry Co’s leading support and offer special thanks to all Green Bracelet buyers. Together, we are making good progress on fulfilling DEF’s dream of helping Africans help Africa through educational empowerment. GO GREEN!

Below is a complete list of the donors to date:

De Beers/ DTC

FIRESTONE/ NEXT DIAMOND INC

SIMMONS JEWELRY CO.

STEINMETZ DIAMOND GROUP

ZALES CORP

]]> http://www.diamondempowerment.org/chairmans-circle-for-africa/feed/ 0 http://www.diamondempowerment.org/diamonds-give-2008/ http://www.diamondempowerment.org/diamonds-give-2008/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:58:08 +0000 admin http://72.34.42.5/~diamond/?p=494

THANKS TO OUR DIAMONDS GIVE 2008 EVENT PATRONS!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

GREENHOUSE
150 Varick Street
Soho, NYC

Hosts Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, and David Blaine
Co-Chairs Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner and Benjamin Steiner

Music by DJ Cassidy with special guest O’Neal McKnight
Special Guest Miss Africa USA Nyasha Zimucha
African Drumming by Talu Green
Special guests included international supermodel Liya Kebede, Tatiana Ali,
Mario, Elise Neal, Andre Harrell, R&B singer Joe, and former NFL player and
ESPN commentator Ray Crockett, among others.

Underwriting Sponsor:

GREENHOUSE
With special thanks to Jon B, Adam Tyler Starkman, Raymie Moynagh.

Hors d’oeuvres and Desserts by
VIA DEI MILLE
With special thanks to Barry Mullineaux and Guiseppe Tuosto
Additional culinary support from Andrew Silverman

Living Gift Bag Provided by

PLANT SHED
With special thanks to Eric Mourkakos

Table Sponsors:

Justin Etzin & Melissa Bradbury
Ashit Parikh, Emby Jewelry LLC dba Diamond Delight
Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner and Benjamin Steiner
Eric Steiner
Bara and Alex Tisch

Host Committee: Ayaan Ahmed, Jon B, Sari Baez, James Cannon Boyce, Jayma
Cardoza & Scott Campbell, BJ Coleman, Paul Coyne, Ray Crockett, Adair
Curtis, Mignon Espy-Edwards, Nia Gandy & Rory Williams, Maneesh Goyal, Ellen
Haddigan, Filippa Hamilton, Serci & Myorr Janha, Sarah Jones & Steve Colman,
Jessica & Jamie King, Candace Levy & Brandon Miller, Kirsten Magwood, David
Marino, Robert Lucien May, Jody Miller, Barry Mullineaux, Tangie Murray,
Elise Neal, Christina Paljusaj, Ashit Parikh, Simone Reyes, Annette
Richardson, Lisa Sorensen, Adam Starkman, Bara and Alex Tisch, Lauren
Wirtzer Seawood and Aaron Seawood, Derrin Woodhouse, Gwen Wunderlich-Smith

Supporters: Danielle Abreau, Tatiana Ali, Carol Archer, Allen Beeber,
Phyllis & Ira Bergman, Joseph Boucos, Paige Butcher, Chinh Chu, Ray
Crockett, Cheri Di Cerbo, DeAndre, DeVane, Richard Firshein, Diana Gaertner,
Nelson George, Marcus Glover, William Goldberg Company, Noah Greenspan, Kyle
Hagler, Keesha Johnson, Claudine Joseph, Niklas Lamotte, Rashawn Lee, Frank
Madden, Mark Muinde, S. Newman, John O’Keefe, Elliott F. Peters, Susan
Posnock, Saif Rahman, Scott Rauch and the Simmons Jewelry Co., David
Rosenberg, Inga Savitz, Hedda Schupak, John Sposato, Patti Webster, Yancy
Weinrich, Stanley Young.

Very special thanks to all of our incredible volunteers, Jody Miller and JLM
Public Relations, and especially all donors to the Diamonds Give 2008
Auction on charitybuzz.com!

Hosts Russell Simmons, Pat & Emmitt Smith were joined by the great Dallas crowd to celebrate DEF’s first major event at City Place. Football great and Emmitt Smith co-hosted with Russell Simmons, and along Magic Johnson and others, helped raise a grand total of $320,000 for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF). The Diamond Dinner was a success and there were great live auction prizes including, court side seats at the Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center courtesy of Magic Johnson, the 2008 Dallas Rocks Honoree.

Dallas’ Cityplace was packed with an energized crowd. Emmy nominated television personality Suzanne Sena from FOX National served as the Master of Ceremonies while Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Terrell Owens (Dallas Cowboy’s wide receiver), Ray Crockett (former Broncos corner back) and Michael Johnson (Olympic Gold Medalist). and others roused the attendees to help raise the $320,000 for DEF.

Magic Johnson used his charm and influence with his friends and rallied sports stars Smith, Owens, Olympic track star Michael Johnson and Simmons to buy the ‘Dinner with Magic Johnson’ with his ‘Personal Lakers Tickets’ package, of which Johnson offered several more than originally planned, each time pushing the energized crowd to donate another $20,000 for each dinner. The fired-up audience elicited riotous applause as each was scooped up.

Simmons presented Magic Johnson with the Humanitarian Empowerment Award for his tireless work around preventing HIV/AIDS, and Eva Longoria Parker received the Lonestar Empowerment Award for her longstanding work with special needs children and adults through her charity “Eva’s Heroes”

The smashing success of Dallas Rocks sets high hopes for the next Dallas Rocks 2009! New developments coming soon….Click here for more highlights from Dallas Rocks 2008!

Important Contacts

Sponsorship & Auction Donations
Ayaan Ahmed, Director of Development
Diamond Empowerment Fund
C: (646) 515-7786
E: ayaan@diamondempowerment.org

D.E.F. Extends a Special Thank You

Naomi Campbell

Cedric the Entertainer

LL Cool J

Petra Nemcova

Holly Robinson Peete

Brett Ratner

Justine and Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons

Russell Simmons

Derek Jeter contributed a signed New York Yankees memorabilia package which was also auctioned to benefit DEF.

D.E.F Thanks the following Diamond Contributors

Phyllis Bergman (three-circle diamond pendant)

Calhoun Jewelers (antique ruby and diamond ring)

Jeri Cohen Fine Jewelry (pink amethyst and diamond earrings)

Michelle Farmer Fine Jewelry (cirtrine and pave diamond ring)

Fortunoff (three-strand gold and diamond bib style necklace)

Kwiat (diamond hoop earrings)

Neil Lane (diamond ball earrings)

Leo Schachter (three-stone diamond pendant)

Macy’s (diamond earrings and pendant set)

Lorraine Schwartz (diamond hoop earrings)

Security Jewelers, celticjewelry.com and arcticsparkle.com (karasel diamond pendant)

Simmons Jewelry Co. (pave diamond and monkstone Ohm watch)

Steinmetz (gold and diamond replica of the Monaco Grand Prix racing trophy)

Jack Vartanian (bow necklace with diamond accents)

William Goldberg Company (platinum pave diamond ring)

The Diamond Empowerment Fund extends its profound thanks to the following for the development and support of the Diamond Empowerment for Africa’s Future PSA campaign:

JWT NY
Waytion
Diamond Information Center
Simmons Jewelry Co.
CPX Interactive

With special thanks to the creative team who have donated their time, creative energy, and production resources to help DEF’s cause.

Hamptons Go Green Benefit Cocktail Party for D.E.F. raised more than $44,000 for D.E.F.. Hosted by Russell Simmons and Hamptons Magazine Publisher Jason Binn, sponsored by Simmons Jewelry Co., STK and Ciroc (Sag Harbor).

Sponsors:

Ciroc
Simmons Jewelry Co.
Jason Binn, Hamptons Magazine
STK
Mark Birnbaum and Eugene Remm, The Estate
William Goldberg Company

Head of Class Patrons:

Gold Star Patrons:

Go Green Patrons:

Silent Auction Patrons: