Policies & Issues

Columbia Gem House Opens Jewelry Raffle for Wildlife Fundraiser

Policies & IssuesOct 04, 2023

Columbia Gem House Opens Jewelry Raffle for Wildlife Fundraiser

Tickets are on sale now and all proceeds go to sea turtle rehabilitation.

CRRIFS nonprofit
For its 2023 “Jewelry for Wildlife” fundraiser, Columbia Gem House is raising money for Mexico-based wildlife nonprofit CRRIFS.
Vancouver, Wash.—Columbia Gem House’s “Jewelry for Wildlife” fundraiser is taking the form of a raffle this year. Nine designers have donated jewelry, each valued at $2,500, for the event. 

The mining company is raising money for CRRIFS, a nonprofit that supports wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and research along the Sonoran Coast of Mexico. Its mission is to support the protection and conservation of the country’s native wildlife. 

All raffle ticket sales will be donated to support CRRIFS in its 2024 goal of building a saltwater tank for sea turtle rehabilitation. 

 Related stories will be right here … 

Like the year before, the miner is hosting its fundraiser in conjunction with the 2023 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual contest in which designers are given a fictional story to integrate into a custom jewelry design.

The jewelry in this year’s raffle was designed by the following contest participants:

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 


Columbia Gem House donated the gemstones used in the designs. 

This year’s offerings include “grape” garnet, neon green beryl, tourmaline, and Cortez Pearls—a special addition, because CRRIFS’ programs help support the native wildlife that relies on the same ecosystem as Cortez Pearl oysters.

Only 100 raffle tickets are available for each piece of jewelry. Tickets are $25, and there is no purchase limit. Shoppers can view the jewelry and purchase tickets on Columbia Gem House’s website.   

Ticket sales began on Sunday and will run through Oct. 31, or until all tickets are sold.  

The raffle is open to shoppers worldwide, but some exclusions apply based on shipping restrictions. 

Winners will be randomly selected and notified via email by Nov. 7. Winners will be required to respond within 48 hours with a shipping address or the item will default to the next randomly selected winner.  

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