PHOENIX (July 5, 2010) – Jewelers for Children, the jewelry industry’s charity supporting children in need, has pledged $650,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2010 to fund wish-granting activities around the world.

Jewelers for Children made the announcement June 6 as part of $3 million in contributions to seven children’s charities at the 12th-annual Facets of Hope event in Las Vegas.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America will receive $600,000 to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions in all 50 states through the Wish A State program. Make-A-Wish Foundation International will receive $50,000 to fund wishes in India. Since its inception in 1999, Jewelers for Children has donated more than $9.3 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, one of the organization’s legacy charities.

Two wish kids, Dominique and AJ, participated in the Facets of Hope event by sharing their wish stories. AJ, who wished to record two songs with gospel music producer Steven Ford, performed a song from his soon-to-be-released CD, Whatever You Need. Dominique shared the story of her wish to meet the Backstreet Boys.

“It’s a pleasure to have Jewelers for Children renew its support of our wish kids and help us grant at least one wish in all 50 states,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “This contribution is just one part of the philanthropic and volunteer efforts that members of the jewelry industry so generously give to the Make-A-Wish Foundation throughout the year.”

In addition to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Jewelers for Children will distribute funding to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the National CASA Association to fund the Champions for Abused Children program, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Autism Speaks and the Santa-America Fund.

“In a challenging economic environment, it’s gratifying to see so many step up with so much to support Jewelers for Children,” said Edward Bridge, Jewelers for Children board chair.

The organization recognized Ed Hrabak, senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Sterling, Inc., and Jonathan Goldman, CEO of Frederick Goldman, Inc., the first board chair for Jewelers for Children. Jewelers for Children also presented its first JFC Children’s Humanitarian Awards, to lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland and actress Jaime Pressly for their support of causes to benefit children in need.

About Jewelers for Children
Jewelers for Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated more than $35 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect through our charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Autism Speaks, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National CASA Association. JFC also provides support to the Make-A-Wish Foundation International and the Santa-America Fund. This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals and jewelry consumers.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 193,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^® .

# # #