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Press Release: The board of directors of the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) today approved the granting of funds to its existing beneficiaries, the African Leadership Academy, Botswana Top Achievers Program, and CIDA City Campus, and added a $15,000 donation to the Tanzania-based Flaviana Matata Foundation. “We are thrilled to be supporting these four amazing programs,” said Phyllis Bergman, the president of D.E.F.’s board of directors. “Each of these organizations has a mission of empowerment through education, which reflects the core of D.E.F.’s mission. We are thankful for the support of our partners and look forward to continuing to spread the message that through the industry’s efforts, ‘Diamonds Do Good’.” The $240,000 is the result of funds raised by D.E.F.’s Diamonds In The Sky Las Vegas event held at the Four Seasons Hotel this past May. D.E.F. received a tremendous outpouring of support by the industry, including premier presenting sponsors, De Beers Group of Companies, Rio Tinto Diamonds and Signet Jewelers Limited (Kay Jewelers, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Zales Jewelers). Joining them were premier partner sponsor Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, and premier patron sponsors KGK Group, Le Vian Group and Tiffany & Co. A full listing of sponsors can be found on diamondsintheskylasvegas.org. D.E.F.’s first beneficiary, CIDA City Campus, is South Africa’s first non-profit university to offer a four-year business degree. CIDA has an 80 percent employment rate among graduates. The African Leadership Academy is a university preparatory school in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable development on the continent. Students come from all 54 countries in Africa. The Botswana Top Achievers program provides the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development. The Flaviana Matata Foundation was founded by Flaviana Matata, an international fashion model and D.E.F. ambassador. The Foundation seeks to create a future through education and improve livelihoods among the youth in Tanzania. D.E.F. is also actively looking to expand its beneficiaries to other areas of the world where the industry does business. In an effort to further communicate the positive impact the industry has on diamond communities, D.E.F. will be highlighting scholars from each of its existing beneficiary programs on its consumer facing DiamondsDoGood.Com website, currently in development with Condé Nast Media Group and set to launch in late 2014. D.E.F. scholars will also be in attendance at the upcoming GOOD Awards (www.goodawards.org) to be held in New York City on January 8. The good works of Jane Seymour and her Open Hearts Foundation together with David Rocha and Jewelers for Children will be honored at the event.
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