‘DIAMONDS AT THE W SOUTH BEACH’ RAISES AWARENESS AND FUNDS

DEF's ‘DIAMONDS AT THE W SOUTH BEACH’ 

RAISES AWARENESS & FUNDS TO SUPPORT EDUCATION 

The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) hosted a successful ‘Diamonds at the W’ party at the W Hotel South Beach in Miami, Florida, during the American Gem Society’s (AGS) Conclave.

A ‘Raffle for Education’ was held during the event, to support DEF’s mission of empowering African youth through higher education in diamond producing nations. 

From left: DEF board president Phyllis Bergman, DEF board member 

Lita Asscher, and DEF board member and AGS president Cathy Calhoun.

Chad Cramer, of R.F. Moeller Jewelers and winner of a four-night stay during JCK Las Vegas at THEHotel remarked,  “The Diamond Empowerment Fund’s ‘Raffle for Education’ was a great cause to support. We at R.F. Moeller have been caring about and supporting our own community for over 60 years so we understand the importance of such initiatives.”

Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Morris Peterson 

with DEF Angel Ambassador Rahma M.

Celebrity athletes in attendance included Morris Peterson, shooting guard for the Charlotte Bobcats  - "I wanted to show my support for the Diamond Empowerment Fund's mission of empowering the next generation of leaders in Africa through education. Through my own efforts of empowering youth in the Flint Michigan area with my own organization, The Mo Pete Foundation, I know how important it is for youth to develop positive attitudes and goals so they can grow to be responsible, productive citizens of the world". The Diamond Empowerment Fund’s ‘Athletes for Africa’ Ambassador Program helps raise awareness of its mission and beneficiaries.

DEF’s beneficiaries include: 

• CIDA City Campus, a business college in Johannesburg, South Africa, that is free to attendees with the requirement that they return to their native villages and teach for a period of time after graduation. 
• African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg that draws students from all 54 countries in Africa, and emphasizes leadership skills, African History, and entrepreneurial skills. DEF provides scholarships to all students from diamond-producing nations.  
• ...and finally, the Botswana Top Achievers program that selects the top high school students countrywide in Botswana, and affords them the opportunity to study at a university of their choice anywhere in the world. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development.

Event Sponsors include, W Hotel South Beach, Bombay Sapphire, Haute Living, JCK, RideCentric and the GIA.  DEF is proud to share part of the proceeds from the ‘Raffle for Education’ with Jewelers for Children...together making a difference.

Diamond Empowerment Fund Mission Statement:

Founded in 2007, The Diamond Empowerment Fund™ (D.E.F.) is a non-profit international organization with the mission to raise money to support education initiatives that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund will next be at JCK Las Vegas, booth L-200 June 1-4.