New York, NY; November 6, 2013 – Following successful Diamonds in the Sky Gala events in London and Hong Kong, the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) announced today that they will be starting off the 2014 JCK weekend with their third Diamonds In The Sky Gala in Las Vegas, Nevada. The glamour filled evening will include networking, a live auction, chart topping music and featuring a special performance. The black tie optional affair will take place in the Four Seasons Ballroom, adjacent to Mandalay Bay on Thursday, May 29, 2014 beginning at 7pm.
Presentation of the Diamond Empowerment Fund 2014 Global Diamond Industry Achievement Award will be made to H.E. President Ian Khama and the Government of the Republic of Botswana in recognition of their global leadership and contributions to democracy, sustainable economic development and the growth and expansion of the international diamond industry. “On behalf of the Republic of Botswana, we are grateful for this global recognition by the Diamond Empowerment Fund,” said H.E. Tebelelo Seretse, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States. D.E.F President Phyllis Bergman affirmed, “We are thrilled to honor the country of Botswana at Diamonds in the Sky Las Vegas.”
The inaugural Diamonds In The Sky took place in November 2010 in London and proudly honored Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of the De Beers Group, and Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank. Diamonds In The Sky Hong Kong, which took place in September 2011, honored Dr. Cheng Yu-tung Chairman of Chow Tai Fook Group and Cynthia Carroll Chief Executive of Anglo American plc.
Diamonds In The Sky Las Vegas will bring together a unique mix of the international diamond jewelry industry, government officials from diamond producing nations, dignitaries and celebrities from fashion and entertainment. The proceeds will benefit D.E.F’s ‘Diamonds Do Good’ mission of providing higher education scholarships for youth from diamond producing countries.
The Diamond Empowerment Fund was co-founded by Russell Simmons and leaders in the diamond industry in 2007.
Additional details on the Diamond in the Sky Las Vegas event will be available soon. Kindly contact Executive Director Nancy Orem Lyman directly at 212.359.4219 or n.lyman@diamondempowerment.org with immediate questions.