JCK Industry Fund Announces 2024 Grant Recipients

Norwalk, CT (April 23, 2024) – JCK and its Industry Fund Committee are pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of its annual JCK Industry Fund grants totaling $341,000, an increase from last year. Since 1997, the fund has awarded over $7 million toward program grants to benefit the jewelry industry at large. The mission of the JCK Industry Fund is to support the jewelry industry’s long-term health, success and growth by providing grant funding to organizations with the vision and programming to drive sustainable improvements across the industry.

"In our ongoing commitment to the industry, spanning the past 25 years, we are continuing to champion the pivotal endeavors of the organizations that are advancing our industry's interests. From consumer confidence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to spearheading sustainability initiatives and beyond, the JCK Industry Fund remains steadfast in its support. We want to express our gratitude to the JCK community whose contributions have propelled the Fund's growth and commend the 2024 grant recipients,” states Sarin Bachmann, Group Vice President, RX Jewelry Portfolio, and Chair of the JCK Industry Fund Committee.

The 2024 grant recipients are comprised of 9 organizations that received grant monies in the first quarter of 2024 to advance specific projects and initiatives in key areas.

2024 Industry Fund Grant Recipients and Initiatives:

• Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) will once again be granted funds for their emerging designer participation in JCK 2024 and JCK 2025.
• Diamonds Do Good (DDG) will receive grant monies for the consumer-confidence broadcast campaigns, targeted media distribution to drive consumers to buy diamonds.
• Gem Legacy’s grant will help them reach their goal to increase inclusiveness and diversity of socio-economic levels, tribes, places of origin, and family employment in higher education. Additionally, JCK’s Industry Fund grant will fuel their mission of providing artisanal, small-scale, colored gemstone miners with everything they need to be successful.  This includes college scholarships for children of mining communities, sending traveling gemologists to artisanal mining regions to overcome their #1 challenge – lack of gemstone knowledge.  The grant will also help equip these small-scale miners with essential tools for self-protection.

• Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) is granted for their advance software and technology including i2 Analyst's Notebook, a software product for data analysis to reveal relationships between data entities to discover patterns and provide insight into data, LexisNexis Accurint for Law Enforcement, an investigative technology that can expedite the identification of people and their assets, addresses, relatives and business associates by providing instant access to a comprehensive database of public records; and TLOxp, a database containing personal information, including peoples' physical addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and the contact details of their relatives, and is used by private investigators and law enforcement.

• Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) – to fund the development and launch of an ADA Compliance Guide for industry members. An inaccessible website can exclude people just as much as steps to an entrance of a physical location. This along with guides on compliance for physical locations will be funded by the grant and included in an online guide and training materials to assist industry members in complying with the ADA.
• Mercury Free Mining is presented a grant for the scaling of GOLDROP technology and the development of a responsible gold supply chain. This transformational initiative, supported by the JCK Industry Fund along with large and small-scale jewelers around the world, marks a significant shift towards sustainable mercury-free gold mining and community empowerment in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities.
• MJSA – The grant will help fund the MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program intended to help with the unprecedented labor shortage of bench jewelers. This grant will allow MJSA to develop 150 hours of related educational training and information to be made available throughout the industry as well as to trade schools, community colleges to supplement existing jewelry programs and add new ones.
• Pure Earth – a first time recipient of the fund, Pure Earth is receiving funds for their workshop that raises awareness on the benefit of harmful effects of mercury. This is a presentation of alternative technology for mercury-free gold extraction 3, marketing and commercialization training.
• Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) the JCK grant will support WJA in holding their Generating Community Impact Breakfast event at JCK, on Friday, May 31 at 8:00 AM at The Venetian. The session will focus on increasing access to the industry through diversity, equity and inclusion, specifically as it relates to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The recipients are selected due to their synergy with the core goals of the fund, as determined by a committee comprised of the following jewelry industry leaders whom we thank for the time and efforts: Sarin Bachmann, Group Vice President, RX Jewelry Portfolio; Lisa Bridge, President and CEO, Ben Bridge Jewelry; John Green, President & CEO, Lux Bond & Green; Michael Lerche, President, Goldstar Jewellery LLC; Eddie LeVian, CEO, Le Vian; and Roger Forman, President, Marathon Company.

The grants are funded primarily by JCK with additional support from the industry through donations from JCK exhibitors and attendees. Donations are collected year-round and allocated annually.

For more information and to donate, visit https://lasvegas.jckonline.com/en-us/landing-pages/jck-industry-fund.html.

Contact

Jen Cullen Williams, Luxury Brand Group
[email protected]

MJ McGrath, Marketing Director, JCK & Luxury
[email protected]

About JCK

Considered the most important jewelry exhibition in the world, the award-winning JCK show provides the global jewelry trade community the optimal stage for business growth by uniting the industry to buy, sell, network, learn and discover. A one-stop destination with the most diverse selection of professionals and products, JCK is jewelry’s most important gathering. Having been a launchpad for jewelry trends, products, and brands for three decades, JCK offers unrivaled access to quality buyers and sellers with 18,000 attendees and over 1,900 exhibitors annually. This is where the jewelry industry and its media partners unite to do business, make vital connections, and get inspired during multiple days of product discovery and exceptional experiences. Visit lasvegas.jckonline.com

About RX

RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organizations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.

*Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors.