(IDEX Online News) – Industry charity Jewelers for Children (JFC) recently announced its new Local Grants program. Through the program, independent jewelers will have an opportunity to nominate a local organization to receive one of a number of $10-$10,000 grants. JFC has earmarked a total of $100,000 to be used for this purpose.

 

Once a final list of nominated charities is compiled, the retailer will be responsible for motivating its customers to vote for their charity through a Facebook-based campaign on JFC's page. The retailer and the nominated charity will be responsible for generating interest by securing votes through their own social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter and email blasts.

 

The nomination period runs until October 4. The voting process will begin on October 15 and end on October 30. The 10 organizations that receive the most votes will be announced on October 31 with the grants being made by December 31.

 

Each of the 10 jewelers who nominate the winning charities will be presenting the grant from JFC directly to the charity on behalf of the jewelry industry.

 

"The Local Grants program presents a fantastic opportunity for local, independent jewelers to become heroes in their communities,” said Ruth Batson, vice president for charity programs for JFC. “Ten well deserving organizations will have an opportunity to grow their programs thank to their local jeweler."

 

Since its inception in 1999, JFC has donated nearly $43 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect.