RJO Foundation Busy with Auction, Scholarships, & Cookbooks

THE RJO FOUNDATION WON’T BE STOPPING for a breath any time soon. Its plate is full of activity, including fundraising initiatives encompassing the past, present, and future.

Just passed was the auction held in March for jewelry artwork created by Mike Doland. Mike is a former RJO Foundation Board of Directors president and retired owner of Doland Jewelers in Dubuque and Davenport. Twenty-three pieces of art (examples shown below) were auctioned off, resulting in a fundraising total of more than $9,800. Photos of all of the pieces of artwork up for sale may be viewed here.

Presently going on at the RJO Foundation is the review of Spring 2023 Scholarship applications. The submission deadline was April 28, and the RJO Foundation Scholarship Committee is reviewing applications and will award the scholarships the week of May 9.

Planning is under way for future Foundation ventures, which include the selling of RJO jewelry and an RJO Family Cookbook. All items will be available at the RJO Summer Buying Show registration desk. All proceeds benefit the RJO Foundation.

Jewelry offered include popular items (from RJO’s very generous vendor partners) from past sales, and they include:

•RJO lapel pins, donated by DiaExpressions. Pins are $15.

•Diamond-shaped CZ studs, donated by Jewelers Mutual Insurance. $30 for 1 or $75 for 3.

•RJOStrong necklaces for $30, donated by AVA Couture.

•RJO logo necklaces for $30, produced by Sterling Reputation.

Recipes for the RJO Family Cookbook have been being collected for months, and the book will be filled with family favorites from your RJO members and vendors. Cookbooks will be sold for $25.

GIA Diamond Grading Course Offered in August

RJO has partnered with GIA and the Jewelers Mutual Group to bring the GIA Diamond Grading Lab to the Midwest from August 7-11. Currently only offered in New York or Carlsbad, this opportunity—exclusive to RJO retailers—will be held on the Jewelers Mutual campus in Neenah, WI. The course costs $2,750 per attendee and will be facilitated by a GIA Instructor. This initial course is full, but a waiting list has been created, pending any cancellations. For more information, call: 800-247-1774 or email: rjo@rjomembers.com