Our very deserving Fab Find this week is Jewels for Hope, the jewelry company that creates affordable, one-of-a-kind jewelry while giving back 10% of the net profits of every sale to charitable organizations. In the guilt-ridden world of shopping, Jewels for Hope offers an experience you can feel good about. Whether you are looking for a gift for a friend or treating yourself, Jewels for Hope provides a diverse selection of beautiful, handmade jewelry with the bonus of also benefiting a worthy cause.
How was it started?
Founded in 2009 by Sandy D’Andrea, Jewels for Hope was born out of a passion for designing jewelry and a belief in the importance of giving back. Founder Sandy D’Andrea’s life changed radically when her mother, stricken with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia, came to live with her and her family. Determined to make her mother as comfortable as possible, Sandy left her job and spent the next seven years at her mother’s bedside. During that difficult time, nurses from the Connecticut Hospice came daily to help with the tasks that Sandy herself was unable to perform. To alleviate her mind from the daily stress, she began to make jewelry and, as tokens of appreciation, gave bracelets to the nurses from the Hospice. Her self-taught jewelry skills were a success and Sandy realized that her true passion had been ignited.
In 2010, Sandy’s daughter, Stevie Lynn, a recent graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology, brought her marketing and social media acumen to the company and the ` business has been expanding ever since. Stevie Lynn has widened their audience to reach celebrity clients as well the general public. Recently, their jewelry has been included in the 2012 Oscars and Golden Globes gift bags and the 2012 MTV movie Awards Swag bags.
“Look Great and Donate”
After one look at the website, I was a convert. As an accessories junkie, I’m always looking for ways to add more bling to my wardrobe. I love the casual vibe of the woven bracelets for the daytime as well as the glammed up vintage pieces for a more formal look. And the affordable prices translate into great giving ideas for the holidays. Now that the Fall season is upon us, it’s never too early to start planning ahead! Jewels for Hope can purchased through their website, in select stores or on Etsy.
Jessica Hendler is a contributing writer and editor for Bridgette Raes Style Expert’s blog and is currently responsible for Friday’s Fab Finds. Have a Fab Find that you think we should feature, email Jessica at [email protected].
