Forevermark Announces Multi-Year Partnership with DEF

StephenLussier, Phyllis Berman, and DEF scholar Nadine Zoro at the GOOD Awards event.

(IDEX Online News) – Forevermark, the De Beers diamond brand, announced a multi-year partnership with the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) at DEF's GOOD Awards event.

“With an aligned mission of bringing sustainable benefits to the people and communities in diamond producing nations in Africa, our partnership with D.E.F. will help us further deliver on our commitment to responsible sourcing,” said Stephen Lussier, CEO of Forevermark.

Forevermark and DEF will also launch the Forevermark Promise Scholars Program in 2014. Students from DEF’s three beneficiaries, African Leadership Academy, Botswana Top Achievers Program and CIDA City Campus, will be supported through their academic journey through the Forevermark Promise Scholars Program. “This partnership is an effective way for Forevermark and DEF to provide scholarships to young emerging leaders exemplifying the good that diamonds can do,” said DEF President Phyllis Bergman.

Forevermark was one of the honorees at the GOOD Awards in New York City for global leadership and making a positive difference for communities around the world. Forevermark joins DEF's Empowerment Circle at the Infinity level.

The Empowerment Circle was established in 2013 to help DEF fulfill its mission to develop the next generation of leaders in diamond producing nations. The three levels of Empowerment Circle Partnerships are; Infinity - a multi-year major contribution that includes Forevermark; Perennial - an annual major contribution that includes the Dalumi Group and Malca-Amit Secure Logistics; and Meridian, an annual supporter contribution that includes Tiffany & Co., Exelco Diamonds (Tolkowsky Diamonds), Leo Schachter Diamonds (the Leo Diamond), Brilliant Earth and Sarine Technologies.