JCK Announces 2016 Industry Fund Winners

Norwalk, Conn.--JCK announced this week that six organizations will share in its 18th annual Industry Fund grants.

The grants, which amount to more than $293,000 this year, will go to: Jewelers of America (JA), the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), Diamond Council of America (DCA), Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA), Jewelers Vigilance Canada Inc. (JVC Canada) and Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC).

An Industry Fund Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives from JCK, retailers and manufacturers, selects fund recipients. Submissions of applications for the 2017 grants will begin in October.

Distributed each year, JCK’s fund grants awards to projects that improve the image of the jewelry industry in the eyes of the consumer, aid jewelry industry organizations in addressing problems in the industry and/or assist internal organizations and associations in developing training materials.

JA said it will use its grant to conduct consumer research that will help the industry gain a better understanding of the current retail landscape and, ultimately, be used to create a national consumer-focused marketing campaign for fine jewelry.

JVC Canada and JSA will use the money they receive to host a North American Jewelry Crime Conference in Toronto, scheduled to take place Sept. 26 to 28, while the DCA will provide scholarships to high school students participating in its Jewelry Industry Readiness Initiative.

The program takes DCA’s Diamond, Sales and Colored Gemstone courses into high schools throughout the United States, allowing students to graduate high school with a jewelry industry certification.

The JVC will continue to advocate for all sectors of the trade through its Industry Protection Program while DEF will continue to bring its “Diamonds Do Good” message to millennial consumers.

“We are pleased to stand behind the initiatives of this year’s JCK Industry Fund recipients,” said Yancy Weinrich, senior vice president, JCK. “This group is at the forefront of addressing current challenges for the jewelry industry including: security, protection, consumer confidence and education. This approach not only addresses these critical needs but also prepares the industry for the future by educating the next generation of consumers and industry professionals.”