The canceling of Las Vegas Jewelry Week this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic means Jewelers for Children’s (JFC) annual Facets for Hope dinner sadly isn’t happening.

So during the pandemic, to help raise funds for the children’s charities it supports, JFC has partnered with Abhay Javeri of SDC Designs and Scott Rauch of SHR Jewelry Group to manufacture and sell face masks to the jewelry industry. JFC’s charitable partners include St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Santa-America Fund, and Make-a-Wish America.

Rauch and Javeri came up with the idea of making the charitable masks when brainstorming ways to help the nonprofit. They phoned JFC president David Rocha, who quickly agreed to the idea, Rauch tells JCK. “With masks being essential to create a safe working environment for all, we realized we could tap into our extensive manufacturing resources, procure masks, and give back to JFC at the same time,” says Rauch.

“Everyone is going to need access to masks as our industry follows guidelines set by the CDC,” Rauch adds. “Partnering with Jewelers for Children on this just made sense to help them continue their mission and fundraising efforts, which the industry has strongly supported year after year since 1999.”

To broaden awareness of the initiative, Abhay and Scott reached out to Michael Langhammer and Cora Lee Colaizzi at Quality Gold—both longtime supporters of JFC—and Langhammer agreed to handle order fulfillment and assist in promoting the masks within the industry.

The black, nonmedical-grade masks are made from three layers of cotton—so they’re washable, breathable, and reusable—and they come with an optional filter insert. A pack of five masks costs $20 (a two-pack of filter inserts adds another $1). JFC will receive $4 from each bag of masks sold.

Want to order some masks? All orders are due by June 15—submit yours by filling out this form.

Emili Vesilind

JCK Senior Editor