Jewelry for a Cause

Jewelry for a Cause is an online company that was founded by Jessica Pollack Mindich, an American jewelry designer, in December 2008.^[1]

Founder and CEO of Jewelry for a Cause

History

In the year 2000, Mindich stepped down from her position as General Counsel at an internet company to raise a family.^[2] With both her children in school years later, Mindich found herself desperate to get back to work. She started looking for a job based on the notion of being able to do something important to her, a lesson learned from her philanthropic parents.^[3] In 2008, she launched Jewelry for a Cause, with the idea of making and selling jewelry to raise money for both foreign and domestic causes.^[4]

Jewelry for a Cause became popular with public and private schools, offering an alternative to the standard school rings and sweatshirts, while also offering an additional fundraising tool next to candy bars^[5] and wrapping paper. Mindich's organization has raised money for more than 300 schools and charities.^[6]

Products

Talismans

The Talisman necklace line^[7] from the web-based company^[5] includes a charm featuring a Buddha, peace sign and daisy to name a few, where part of the sales are given to online charity www.donorschoose.org.^[7] Other items from this line donate to many other organizations, including the American Heart Association^[6] and the American Red Cross Japanese Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Disaster Relief Efforts.^[8]

In Gratitude

The In Gratitude necklace line is made from recycled newspaper, barkcloth and natural plant dye^[9] by local artisans in Uganda.^[10] The purchase of any necklace from this line helps the women of Uganda create a sustainable source of income for their families and community.^[9]

Caliber Collection

Mindich attended a conference in December 2011, where the Mayor of Newark (NJ) Cory Booker,^[11] was discussing the illegal gun violence affecting his city.^[12] Mindich spoke with Mr. Booker, who had attended Yale Law School with Mindich's husband, about Newark's gun buyback program.^[11] Together, they drew a connection to her work designing jewelry as a fundraising tool and the partnership began between the city and police department of Newark and Jewelry for a Cause.^[13]

Starting with melting metals from guns that had been confiscated in old cases, the bracelets are stamped with a serial number^[14] that corresponds with one of the guns taken off the streets by the Newark Police Department. 20% of the proceeds from each purchase will fund future gun buyback and amnesty programs in Newark, NJ.^[8]

Newark Gun Buyback

The weekend of April 27, 2013, the city of Newark, NJ the Newark Police Department^[15] and Jewelry for a Cause hosted a gun buyback. Police recovered 210 weapons, including eight assault rifles. The weekend event was fully funded by Mindich's company by providing $60,000, from the sales of the Caliber Collection bracelets, in total to the cause.^[16]

Philanthropy Efforts

Jewelry for a Cause has raised money for more than 300 schools and charities. Such as:

^[17]

References

External links

• Jewelry for a Cause website
• Jewelry for a Cause blog