he Diamond
Empowerment
Fund (DEF) hosted
its most successful
Diamonds Do Good
Awards to date, on
May 31st, 2018, at the
Four Seasons Hotel in
Las Vegas. The funds
raised will be used to
provide higher education
scholarships and
assistance to empower
young people living in
diamond producing
countries and where the
diamond industry does business and to help communicate
this ‘diamonds do good’ impact to consumers.
Botswana Top Achiever student and recent Yale graduate,
Opelo Matome, represented DEF’s Student Scholars. She
said, “I am ever grateful for the opportunities I’ve been
granted through the support of organisations like the
Diamond Empowerment Fund and through my country’s
prioritisation of education, truly one of the most powerful
catalysts for change.”
The event was aided by the first-ever industry ‘Balloons
For Good’ appeal. Emceed by Awards chair and president
of Hearts On Fire, Caryl Capeci, and JCK news director Rob
Bates, the on-site appeal raised additional dollars for DEF’s
mission.
Honourees receiving Diamonds Do Good Awards for their
own efforts at bringing about social impact change included
Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers, for his role in accelerating
DEF Hosts Record 2018 Diamonds
Do Good Awards
T
the professional advancement of women, and the
Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) of Canada,
for its responsible diamond mining development policies.
Bruce Cleaver noted, “Advancing women is an industry-
wide issue. We all have an interest in strengthening the
sector by making it more diverse, in making sure the
benefits that diamonds can have are felt in the communities
from which they come.”
GNWT premier Bob McLeod said, “Our government has
made it a priority to ensure the multi-billion dollar diamond
industry would benefit the NWT economy and residents, and
protect the land, water, and wildlife for future generations.”
DEF president Anna Martin, also senior vice president of
GIA, closed the evening saying, “The recipients of this year’s
Diamonds Do Good Awards truly 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.”
Lead sponsors of the Diamonds Do Good Awards included
the De Beers Group of Companies, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery
Group, Signet Jewelers (Kay Jewelers, Jared the Galleria of
Jewelry, Zales Jewelers), Dominion Diamond Mines, Le Vian,
Rosy Blue, Hearts On Fire and Forevermark. (From left) Abhay Javeri, Russell Mehta and Ragin Mehta
A wide-angle shot of the gala eventDEF board membersAnna Martin with Bruce CleaverSPECTRUM20 SOLITAIRE INTERNATIONAL JULY 2018