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Columbia Gem House Announces ‘Opals for Outback Heroes’ Fundraiser
Proceeds from its jewelry raffle will go to a volunteer-run fire and rescue group in the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia.
Columbia Gem House has announced its fifth annual online fundraising raffle, “Opals for Outback Heroes.”
Vancouver, Wash.—Columbia Gem House (CGH) has announced its fifth annual online fundraising raffle, “Opals for Outback Heroes.”
Like in years past, the miner is hosting the event in conjunction with the 2025 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual contest in which designers are given a fictional story to integrate into a custom jewelry design.
CGH donated opals sourced from the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia, for participating designers to utilize in their creations.
The designers, in turn, donated their finished pieces to be raffled off in the fundraiser.
The raffle and design challenge unite around the shared values of responsible sourcing, inspired design, and supporting the communities that bring these “extraordinary gems” to life, the companies said.
This year’s fundraiser recipient is the Lightning Ridge Rural Fire Brigade, a volunteer group that responds to bushfires, structure fires, land searches, hazard-reduction burns, and motor vehicle accidents, protecting the people, wildlife, and landscape surrounding the Lightning Ridge opal mines.
Like in years past, the miner is hosting the event in conjunction with the 2025 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual contest in which designers are given a fictional story to integrate into a custom jewelry design.
CGH donated opals sourced from the Lightning Ridge area of New South Wales, Australia, for participating designers to utilize in their creations.
The designers, in turn, donated their finished pieces to be raffled off in the fundraiser.
The raffle and design challenge unite around the shared values of responsible sourcing, inspired design, and supporting the communities that bring these “extraordinary gems” to life, the companies said.
This year’s fundraiser recipient is the Lightning Ridge Rural Fire Brigade, a volunteer group that responds to bushfires, structure fires, land searches, hazard-reduction burns, and motor vehicle accidents, protecting the people, wildlife, and landscape surrounding the Lightning Ridge opal mines.
The money fundraised through the raffle will fund vital upgrades such as refitting the meeting and training room with new tables, chairs, computers, lamps, and office supplies and acquiring a thermal imaging camera essential for detecting heat during structure fires.
If funds allow, it will also be allocated to repainting the training space, adding a pressure cleaner for equipment maintenance, and installing lockers to properly store gear.
CGH, in collaboration with its sourcing partner Cheal Opal, selected the Brigade to give back to the community that “makes these stones possible.”
Nine jewelry pieces will be featured in the raffle and can be previewed here.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through CGH's website. There are 100 tickets available per piece.
The raffle is open online now through Oct. 31.
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