DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND HOSTS FUNDRAISERS TO RAISE MONEY FOR HIGHER LEARNING IN AFRICA

03 November 2008

The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), an international non-profit organization co-founded by hip-hop icon Russell Simmons and diamond and jewelry industry leaders, is organizing a fundraising party called Diamonds Give 2008: The Greenhouse Benefit Event and currently holding a benefit auction called the On-line Auction on Charity Buzz. These two events are to raise money for the organization's education initiatives in Africa that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in diamond-rich countries, specifically South Africa and Botswana. This year's Greenhouse Benefit Event party, hosted by Simmons and magician David Blaine, will take place on November 19, 2008, in Manhattan, where general admission donations start at US$250 per person or US$400 per couple. The party's organizers are expecting 450 guests. Co-chairing the party is Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner, a DEF ambassador, South African native and top fashion model, who is dedicated to helping empower youth in Johannesburg through access to higher education.  In partnership with Charity Buzz, a non-profit umbrella organization that promotes celebrity-backed non-profit organizations through online auctions, DEF is holding its online auction through December 2, 2008, which features diamond jewelry, celebrity experiences and travel excursions. Some auction prizes will be previewed at the Greenhouse Benefit Event, with a small live auction held that same evening. The jewelry contributors to the Charity Buzz Auction include: Diamonds from Zale Corp., Steinmetz, Fortunoff, Tara, Simmons Jewelry Co., Emby International and Diarough, Sterling Corporation, Erickson Beamon Diamonds and Mercury Ring Corp. To visit DEF's Charity Buzz auction, click here:  http://dg08.charitybuzz.com/viewLots.do