L.A. Wildfire Jewelers Relief Fund Has Raised $80K

By Rob Bates | February 18, 2025

The Jewelers Relief Fund, created by Jewelers of America (JA) and the Diamond Council of America to assist businesses that were damaged by the California wildfires, has raised close to $80,000 so far, Amanda Gizzi, JA’s director of public relations and marketing, tells JCK.

The total comes from $39,665 in individual and corporate donations plus an equal amount from Jewelers Mutual Group, which has agreed to match all money raised up to $50,000.

JA and the Diamond Council have extended the deadline to donate or apply for grants from the fund until March 19.

“There’s still ongoing fires, and the people who have lost everything are not in the position to apply to the grants,” Gizzi says.

Jewelers Relief Fund grants are for stores that sustained physical damage from the fires. “It’s not for people who have lost their homes, as sad as that is,” says Gizzi. “It’s for their businesses. The money is to be used for fixing the store or rebuilding the store.” (Because of that, as well as other criteria, some applications have been denied.)

Jewelers must provide pictures and documentation of the damage with their applications. The fund follows up every application it receives with a phone call.

“We talk to everybody,” says Gizzi. “We are able to hear their real-life story, learn what they’re going through and what the money will be going for.”

So far “every single [eligible] applicant we’ve had has suffered complete store loss,” Gizzi says. “The goal is to help people who have truly lost everything.”

At press time, only six applications had been approved, but Gizzi believes “there’s a bunch more coming up.”

After March 19, the money will be divided evenly among qualified applicants.

Information on how to apply for a grant or make a tax-deductible donation to the fund can be found here.

(Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Fire Department)