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Gems Keep Giving Reorganizes, Taps Hayley Henning as Board Chair
The organization, which was started by the International Colored Gemstone Association, is now a 501(c)(3).
Gems Keep Giving, which began as a charitable development fund started by the International Colored Gemstone Association, is now an independent nonprofit charity.
New York—Gems Keep Giving, an organization supporting artisanal colored gemstone mining and cutting communities, has restructured and announced a new board and chair.
The group, which began as a charitable development fund started by the International Colored Gemstone Association, is now an independent nonprofit charity, registered in the state of New York as a 501(c)(3).
It has appointed a new board, chaired by Hayley Henning, the former chief commercial officer at ruby and pink sapphire mining company Greenland Ruby, which is currently looking for a buyer.
Newly elected board members are: Damien Cody, Clement Sabbagh, Ruth Benjamin-Thomas, Brian Cook, Rocco Gay, Cecilia Gardner, Robert Weldon, and Henry Ho.
With its restructuring, Gems Keep Giving aims to broaden its reach and is seeking funding from “socially conscious industry stakeholders, corporate sponsors, foundations, and other gem-loving and enthusiastic donors.”
“Our illustrious board members are seasoned professionals from all facets of our industry,” said Henning.
“Together, we intend to raise funds to support [the] colored gemstone mining and cutting communities that need it most.”
Henning also said the organization intends to leverage relationships within ICA to support the communities that serve them.
Related stories will be right here …
The group, which began as a charitable development fund started by the International Colored Gemstone Association, is now an independent nonprofit charity, registered in the state of New York as a 501(c)(3).
It has appointed a new board, chaired by Hayley Henning, the former chief commercial officer at ruby and pink sapphire mining company Greenland Ruby, which is currently looking for a buyer.
Newly elected board members are: Damien Cody, Clement Sabbagh, Ruth Benjamin-Thomas, Brian Cook, Rocco Gay, Cecilia Gardner, Robert Weldon, and Henry Ho.
With its restructuring, Gems Keep Giving aims to broaden its reach and is seeking funding from “socially conscious industry stakeholders, corporate sponsors, foundations, and other gem-loving and enthusiastic donors.”
“Our illustrious board members are seasoned professionals from all facets of our industry,” said Henning.
“Together, we intend to raise funds to support [the] colored gemstone mining and cutting communities that need it most.”
Henning also said the organization intends to leverage relationships within ICA to support the communities that serve them.
The organization noted that the majority of colored gems are produced by artisanal miners often in areas where the economic, political, social, and infrastructural circumstances are challenging, which is different from the diamond industry.
“The international gemstone industry and trade fully depend on these mining communities and the people that comprise them, without whom we wouldn’t have gemstones!” said Henning.
“It is in the interest of all stakeholders to support and help sustain these communities, ensuring that they thrive and develop for future generations. Gems Keep Giving offers businesses in our industry, [and] across the supply chain, an opportunity and a platform to contribute towards their well-being, bearing in mind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as set out by the United Nations.”
Applications for funding can be submitted to the Gems Keep Giving website or through direct contact with members of the affected communities, and each will be considered on its merits, said the organization.
More information is available on the Gems Keep Giving website.
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