Events & AwardsAug 21, 2023
MJSA Education Foundation Awards $10,000 in Scholarships Policies & IssuesAug 22, 2023
Columbia Gem House To Hold Wildlife Fundraiser
Donations will benefit nonprofit CRRIFS, which supports the protection and conservation of native wildlife in Mexico.
Columbia Gem House will be donating gems to participants of this year’s MJSA design challenge. The winning pieces will be auctioned off at the fundraiser to benefit CRRIFS, a nonprofit that supports the protection and conservation of native wildlife in Mexico.
Vancouver, Wash.—Mining company Columbia Gem House has partnered with nonprofit CRRIFS for a fundraiser supporting wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and research along the Sonoran Coast of Mexico.
Based in Mexico, CRRIFS’ mission is to support the protection and conservation of the country’s native wildlife.
The “Jewelry for Wildlife” fundraiser will be hosted in conjunction with the 2023 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual contest in which designers are provided with a fictional story they must integrate into a custom jewelry design. This year’s story features a newly divorced mother of two starting a new chapter in her life.
As it has for the past two years, Columbia Gem House will donate the gemstones.
The following designers were selected to participate:
Amelia Mickelsen of Amelia Ray Jewelry;
Andres Cardenas-Whorton of Nobles Metales;
Claudia Gutsch of Goldammer Jewelry;
Hannah Smythe of Toast Fine Jewelry;
Kindred Lubeck of Jewels by Lubeck;
Liz Stefany of Carrabassett Valley Jewelry;
Megan Cochran of Megan Cochran Jewelry;
Olivia Shih of Olivia Shih Designs; and
Stephanie Maslow Blackman of Metalicious Jewelry
Voting for the challenge opens Oct. 1.
Winning pieces will be raffled off with 100 percent of sales donated to CRRIFS in support of its 2024 goal of building a saltwater tank for sea turtle rehabilitation. Its goal is to sell 500 tickets.
Along with sea turtle conservation, CRRIFS’ various programs help support the native wildlife that relies on the same ecosystem as Cortez Pearl oysters, which produce Cortez Pearls — one of the featured gems in this year's project. Other gems include “grape” garnet, neon green beryl, and tourmaline.
Tulsa, Oklahoma-based designer Cady Carlson Dill won last year’s design contest. The 2022 fundraiser raised $7,000 for New York–based nonprofit Nest and its Makers United program.
Related stories will be right here …
Based in Mexico, CRRIFS’ mission is to support the protection and conservation of the country’s native wildlife.
The “Jewelry for Wildlife” fundraiser will be hosted in conjunction with the 2023 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual contest in which designers are provided with a fictional story they must integrate into a custom jewelry design. This year’s story features a newly divorced mother of two starting a new chapter in her life.
As it has for the past two years, Columbia Gem House will donate the gemstones.
The following designers were selected to participate:
Amelia Mickelsen of Amelia Ray Jewelry;
Andres Cardenas-Whorton of Nobles Metales;
Claudia Gutsch of Goldammer Jewelry;
Hannah Smythe of Toast Fine Jewelry;
Kindred Lubeck of Jewels by Lubeck;
Liz Stefany of Carrabassett Valley Jewelry;
Megan Cochran of Megan Cochran Jewelry;
Olivia Shih of Olivia Shih Designs; and
Stephanie Maslow Blackman of Metalicious Jewelry
Voting for the challenge opens Oct. 1.
Winning pieces will be raffled off with 100 percent of sales donated to CRRIFS in support of its 2024 goal of building a saltwater tank for sea turtle rehabilitation. Its goal is to sell 500 tickets.
Along with sea turtle conservation, CRRIFS’ various programs help support the native wildlife that relies on the same ecosystem as Cortez Pearl oysters, which produce Cortez Pearls — one of the featured gems in this year's project. Other gems include “grape” garnet, neon green beryl, and tourmaline.
Tulsa, Oklahoma-based designer Cady Carlson Dill won last year’s design contest. The 2022 fundraiser raised $7,000 for New York–based nonprofit Nest and its Makers United program.
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