The Story of Orange Avocado Jewelry... » Philanthropy Jewelry

Zebra Double Love and A Little Love Necklaces

Published Jun 06 2015 in Philanthropy Jewelry

I am very excited to announce that I will be partnering with the The Zebra Child Protection Centre and Zoofest at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. I have designed two necklaces for this event which can be purchased either on my website under Philanthropy Jewelry here:

http://www.orangeavocado.ca/collections/philanthropy-jewelry

or at Zoofest June 20th at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Zebra Child Protection Centre. To learn more about what this Edmonton based non-profit charity and its community of professionals do for children reporting abuse, please view this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbB2wQ1Ttsw.

Their website is: www.zebracentre.ca
Fashion with Compassion 2014: Compassion Entwined Rings Necklace

Published Oct 31 2014 in Philanthropy Jewelry

It happens to all of us sometime in our lives, too many times. We all know of someone with cancer; a friend, family member or yourself. When I was in my 20’s my colleague and friend Debra was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was in her 40’s and had taken on a second career as a speech-language pathologist. Debra was the best at her job and I looked up to her. We worked in Ponoka, Alberta in the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program. Unfortunately she had to travel back and forth from Ponoka to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton for her treatments. The Compassion House did not exist at this time. I am so sure that if it did Debra would have considered it.

For a second year, I designed a necklace for the Fashion with Compassion Gala: The Compassion Entwined Rings Necklace. This necklace is composed of three entwined bronze rings that I metal worked. Each ring represents the three homes that house ladies receiving treatment from the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. This necklace is adorned with a bronze pendant with the Compassion house logo, a healing semi-precious stone of rock crystal or aquamarine, and a sterling silver chain. Sold out last year I was asked to make 300 necklaces this year. A portion of the proceeds will be going towards the Sorrentino’s Compassion House. It was an honor to make these necklaces.

Thank you to Mellissa Kraft, Executive Director of Sorrentino’s Compassion House. She is a true champion of the cause and is the glue that binds all of the pieces together. I am also grateful to the Met Agency for designing the beautiful combined branding of Fashion with Compassion & Orange Avocado Jewelry. Finally, a thank you to the staff of Compassion House, the Board of Directors and volunteers, for whom this is not just another job.

So my friend Debra, well she lost the fight. Now two decades later, I can gratefully say that I have many friends that are proud survivors. This is for you and of course, my friend Debra.

Please consider donating to this organization at www.compassionhouse.org so more women can enjoy a place of refuge during breast cancer treatment.
WINGS of Courage Necklace

Published Oct 08 2014 in Philanthropy Jewelry

I am excited to introduce the "Wings of Courage" necklace in support of the "Wings of Providence" organization. This necklace will be sold exclusively at the "Girls Night In Event" at the Derrick Golf & Winter club, Edmonton, November 6th, 2014. We are honoured to have Amanda Lindhout as the speaker of the event, with Carrie Doll, as the Master of Ceremonies.

The Wings of Providence is a non-profit organization and a facility that "provides comprehensive transitional programs and independent living in a safe, secure, supportive & healthy environment for women with children who have experienced family violence."

Amanda, Canadian journalist and humanitarian was kidnapped and held for 15 months with her entourage by Islamist insurgents in southern Somalia. The necklace "reflects the message of Courage which embodies the families and women of Wings and Amanda's journey." This exclusive piece will be available for sale the night of the event and pre-sale orders are being taken. Contact girlsnightin@shaw.ca to reserve yours today!

Priced at $155 with a portion of proceeds from sales going to Wings of Providence. This event is now sold out, however, this necklace will be for sale to the general public until the day of the event, Thursday, November 6th 2014.
The Compassion Heart: Imperfect Beauty

Published Oct 18 2013 in Philanthropy Jewelry

Honored & grateful is an understatement to how I feel about being part of “Fashion with Compassion” for the Compassion House Foundation this year. This is the “annual signature fundraiser for Compassion House Foundation in support of Sorrentino’s Compassion house. The sold out event attracts over 1300 guests annually.” This house is a “safe haven” for those out of town breast cancer patients to stay at when receiving treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.

I was asked by Mellissa Kraft, Executive Director of Compassion House Foundation, and Joanne Berger, Chair of Fashion with Compassion to make a necklace that would be sold exclusively at this event. Part of the proceeds would be donated to the organization. So I designed a heart of bronze: assymetrical in shape with handmade markings. Each one is handmade: unique and imperfect which truly represents each woman. I was ecstatic that all 200 necklaces made were sold at this event (yes, I spent 1/2 of my summer making these gems!!). However, the most memorable and heartfelt part of this experience was talking to each person about the necklace and what it meant to him or her.

Thank you to the staff at the Met Agency for making such a beautiful logo combining Orange Avocado Jewelry and the Make a Statement theme, thank you to Mellissa and Joanne for having faith in my jewelry and design, and most of all thank you to the board members and volunteers for making each and every woman (and man) feel like a princess and prince at this event. Here's just a few pictures of the necklace and the lovely ladies that purchased the necklace. Love!!

Please consider donating to this organization at www.compassionhouse.org so more women can enjoy a place of refuge during breast cancer treatment.