J.R. Dunn Jewelers, a South Florida family-owned jewelry firm, has been honored not just locally, but nationally as well.

On Jan. 10, 2003, the business received The Institute of Store Planners “2002 Store Planners of the Year” award along with Pavlik Design Team, designers of their new Fort Lauderdale store. The new shop, located on the city’s trendy Las Olas Boulevard, also garnered an honorable mention from Chain Store Age magazine. The jewelers traveled to Dallas in early March to receive the award at the magazine’s annual SPECS conference.

However, the Dunns are most proud of the fact that the company was chosen by South Florida’s Sun Sentinel newspaper to receive the Excalibur Award—an honor bestowed upon local business leaders. Recipients are judged on their ability to build and innovatively develop the company; contributions to the community, especially through charitable and civic organizations; and the ability to increase company profits or stock values for shareholders, enhance customer service, or create career opportunities within the company.

The integrity of the Dunn family was evident as long ago as 1970, when their original store, The House of Gems in Hanover, Mass., was robbed of every piece of jewelry, including items left by customers for repair. Owners Ann Marie and Jim Dunn went from door to door, personally informing each client that his or her prized possessions would be replaced, and they paid for the stolen jewelry out of their own funds.

Their commitment to the community includes financial support of many charitable and civic organizations and the creation six years ago of Dunn’s Run, a five-mile race/walk that raises more than $100,000 annually for the Deerfield Beach Boys and Girls Club. Jim Dunn currently is a member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County and the United Way of Broward County, and he was recently invited to serve on the board of Winterfest, Fort Lauderdale’s signature holiday event and boat parade.