Caliber Collection
Jewelry for a Cause is an online company that was founded by Jessica Pollack Mindich, an American jewelry designer, in December 2008.[1]
History
In 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 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[14] 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.[15]
References
- ^ "Lawyer mixes jewelry, charity". GreenwichTime. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
- ^ "JESSICA MINDICH, Founder & CEO, Jewelry For A Cause, LLC". Womensconference.org. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/20140209092957/http://venturemom.com/2010/11/10/jessica-mindich-jewelry-for-a-cause/. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Tina Susman (2013-01-17). "Caliber Collection: Newark mayor plugs jewelry made from guns - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ a b "Lawyer mixes jewelry, charity". StamfordAdvocate. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ a b Schaefer, Stephanie (2012-05-30). "Jeweler Makes Charitable Statement With Line From Melted Guns - JCK". Jckonline.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ a b "TALISMANS Necklace Proceeds Benefit Jewelry for a Cause and Do Something". Seventeen.com. 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ a b "Shop Caliber Collection". Jewelryforacause.net. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ a b "Jewelry for a Cause". Thedowntownproject.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ "Milkshake | Good Finds That Give Back | Upgrade Your Style With Jewelry For A Cause". Getmilkshake.com. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ a b Abby Emlin (2013-01-28). "A Connecticut Mother Makes Bangles of Recycled Guns". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ Nelson, Rebecca (2013-01-29). "Jewelry Designer Jessica Mindich: Fighting Gun Violence With Bracelets | TIME.com". Style.time.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ "Caliber Collection fashions jewelry to take guns off the streets". CSMonitor.com. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ "Newark Police Hosting Gun Buyback". Newark, NJ Patch. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ James Queally (2013-04-30). "Newark recovers more than 200 guns during buyback event". NJ.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.