Vancouver, Wash. – Mining company Columbia Gem House has rtnered with the non-profit organization CRRIFS to raise funds for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and research along the Sonoran coast of Mexico.
Based in Mexico, CRRIFS’ mission is to support the protection and conservation of the country’s native wildlife.
The Jewellery for Wildlife fundraiser will be held in conjunction with the 2023 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual competition in which designers are given a fictional story to incorporate into a custom jewellery design. This year’s story features a recently divorced mother of two who is starting a new chapter in her life.
As in the past two years, Columbia Gem House will donate the gemstones.
The following designers have been selected to participate
Amelia Mickelsen of Amelia Ray Jewellery;
Andres Cardenas-Whorton of Nobles Metales;
Claudia Gutsch of Goldammer Jewellery;
Hannah Smythe of Toast Fine Jewellery;
Kindred Lubeck of Jewels by Lubeck;
Liz Stefany of Carrabassett Valley Jewellery;
Megan Cochran of Megan Cochran Jewellery;
Olivia Shih of Olivia Shih Designs;
Stephanie Maslow Blackman of Metalicious Jewellery
Voting for the challenge opens on 1 October.
Winning pieces will be raffled off, with 100 per cent of sales donated to CRRIFS in support of its 2024 goal to build a sea turtle rehabilitation saltwater tank. The goal is to sell 500 tickets.
In addition to sea turtle conservation, CRRIFS’ various programmes help support native wildlife that depends on the same ecosystem as the Cortez Pearl oysters that produce Cortez Pearls – one of the featured gems in this year’s project. Other gems include ‘grape’ garnet, neon green beryl and tourmaline.
Tulsa, Oklahoma-based designer Cady Carlson Dill won last year’s design competition. The 2022 fundraiser raised $7,000 for New York-based non-profit Nest and its Makers United programme.
