Policies & Issues

Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation Efforts

Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024

Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation Efforts

The money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.

Columbia Gem House “Pebbles to Pines” fundraiser
Above is a photo from a site visit Columbia Gem House took last year to Lolo National Forest’s Rice Ridge in Montana, one of the states whose forests will benefit from funds raised through the company’s recent “Pebbles to Pines” fundraiser.
Vancouver, Wash.—Columbia Gem House announced its “Pebbles to Pines” fundraiser raised $10,000 for the National Forest Foundation’s (NFF) Reforestation Program, which focuses on reforesting critical-need regions of America’s national forests.

The gemstone wholesaler conducted the fundraiser through a raffle, through which it sold 300 raffle tickets, raising $7,750. 

Falling short of its original goal to sell 400 tickets, the company made an additional contribution.

“While we are thrilled to have raised $7,750, our original goal of planting 10,000 trees requires a total of $10,000. To ensure we reached that target and continue supporting the work of the National Forest Foundation, Columbia Gem House has decided to contribute an additional $2,250,” said Natasha Braunwart, the company’s brand and corporate social responsibility manager.

“This means that, together, we are fully funding the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and beyond.”

The raffle was again hosted in conjunction with the 2024 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual contest in which designers are given a fictional story to integrate into a custom jewelry design.

Nine designers participated, each donating a piece of jewelry featuring gems provided by CGH from Oregon, Arizona, and Montana, the states whose critical need forest areas will be targeted with the money raised.

The fundraiser garnered support from participants in three countries and over 25 states across the U.S. 

More information on Columbia Gem House and its annual fundraising series is available here

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