JFC’s 11th Rings of Strength Event Is in the Books
More than 120 participants walked and ran a 5k to benefit the organization during Las Vegas Jewelry Market Week.

On Thursday, June 1, more than 120 participants gathered at The Venetian at 5:30 a.m. to run and walk a 5K along the Las Vegas Strip.
Volunteers from the Las Vegas Runners Club guided runners throughout the race.
JCK Events, the American Gem Society, Ashi Diamonds, the GIA Alumni Association, the Women’s Jewelry Association, Quality Gold, Assurant, and Freeman were among the event sponsors.
Various industry 5K teams included groups from Assurant, Quality Gold, the American Gem Society, the Women’s Jewelry Association, JCK Las Vegas, GemOro Products/Kessler Lab Grown Diamonds, GIA Alumni Collective, and BIG.
“The Rings of Strength events are an integral part of the JFC fundraising initiatives each year,” said Alan Zimmer, JFC Board Chair.
“Each year, the support has grown and the camaraderie and the challenge of participation has become a big part of the experience. People look forward to the event and challenging themselves to raise more and push further than the previous year.”
Since 2013, participating teams in Rings of Strength solicit sponsors to support their participation in the event. In all, the event has raised more than $500,000 since it began.
The event is named for a silver ring engraved with the word “Strength” a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—one of JFC’s beneficiaries—gave to another patient.
Rings of Strength has also been held at another industry event, taking place earlier this year in Louisville, Kentucky as part of AGS Conclave.
In total, JFC has donated more than $61 million to programs that benefit children affected by illness, abuse, or neglect, since its inception.
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