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Community News: MJ Christensen Diamonds and BeadforLife Come Together to Fight Extreme Poverty
Just as Cliff & Darlene Miller of MJ Christensen Diamonds believe that a gift of fine jewelry is an intimate expression of love, this love extends even more deeply by connecting to hardworking women in Uganda who are living on less than one dollar per day. The family-owned business has announced that on Wednesday, November 12th from 6-8pm at Emerald at Queensridge, they will host the 5th Annual Runway For Life Event, benefiting BeadforLife members by featuring their handcrafted jewelry, shea butter body products, and more! This jewelry, created with recycled paper, becomes opportunity, empowerment, and lights the spark needed to achieve lasting self-sufficiency.
MJ Christensen is taking its reputation of extraordinary community involvement and philanthropic leadership to a whole new level with this dynamic partnership. The two organizations connect with their shared passion for creating beautiful jewelry, and MJ’s compassion is now touching a whole new group of families’ worlds away. Although they are thousands of miles apart, their hearts will connect during this special event celebrated on November 12th. The focus of Runway For Life is not only for guests to experience beautiful recycled paper jewelry, but also to educate and inspire the community on how they can make a difference in the fight against extreme poverty.
“Like these women half a world away, we create and sell beautiful jewelry, says Cliff Miller, owner of MJ Christensen along with his wife Darlene. “It is an honor to showcase the fruits of their labor and spread the word about this fantastic organization, BeadforLife.” he adds.
BeadforLife is a non-profit collaboration of women in Uganda and concerned global citizens. Members in Uganda roll beautiful bead jewelry from recycled paper and gather shea nuts which become natural body products. Engaged people worldwide create markets for these products and educate themselves and others about extreme poverty. The profits return to fight extreme poverty specifically in areas of health care, housing and business training initiatives. (Jewelry prices range from $4 – $85)
The evening’s celebration will be emceed by FOX5 MORE Show’s very own Rachel Smith and will be held at Emerald at Queensridge, an upscale, family-owned wedding venue that will be transformed into an African inspired marketplace! Events include a live African drum circle, fashion models, as well as a unique African themed dance performance by Dance Connections. Personal fashion stylist, Jenna Doughton, will share her skills on site at the premier style bar emphasizing the versatility of the colorful jewelry, and Elements Massage will soothe guests with pampering hand massages using BeadforLife shea products! Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and sip African themed cocktails while they shop thousands of handmade pieces of jewelry! Entry fee is a $10 donation to BeadforLife, which includes a raffle ticket to win fabulous prizes!
“We are so honored by the generosity, commitment, and passion that MJ Christensen is taking to feature and sell our jewelry in Las Vegas,” says Heather Ditillo, North American Program Director for BeadforLife. “We are thankful for the opportunity to share for the 5th consecutive year the story of how these recycled paper beads become hope for so many hard-working Ugandan women to lift their families out of poverty,” she adds. She says that it is a natural partnership that hadn’t been considered before – with both organizations making their living by selling beautiful jewelry. “We are so grateful for their support and innovative thinking, and hope that this will become a model for other jewelers and retailers across the country,” Ditillo adds.
Together, MJ Christensen and BeadforLife are truly changing the world. MJ invites the community to get involved with BeadforLife and join in the 5th anniversary celebration. For more information about MJ Christensen Diamonds, visit www.mjchristensen.com. To learn more about BeadforLife, visit BeadforLife.org
MJ Christensen Diamonds Locations:
Boca Park Location Henderson Location
8980 W. Charleston Blvd. 10400 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89117 Henderson, NV 89052
(See www.mjchristensen.com for store hours)
For additional media information, please contact Jennifer Miller (702)358-1900 at jennifer@mjchristensen.com
Heather Swearingen (702) 802-2588 at heather@mjcdiamonds.com or Heather Ditillo (303)554-5901, ext. 115 at heather@beadforlife.org
Thank you so much for sharing this with the readers of PinPoint magazines! We look forward to welcoming you with live drums and dancing! 100% of proceeds benefit BeadforLife.org