D.E.F. to Host Fundraiser in London

The Diamond Empowerment Fund is hosting its first international fundraising event, DEF London: Diamonds in the Sky, to be held November 8 at Altitude 360.

Russell Simmons

The benefit and auction is designed to raise awareness and funds for D.E.F.’s mission of empowering economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. The evening’s honorary chairman is entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons, co-founder of the D.E.F.

Nicky Oppenheimer, chairman of De Beers, and Peter Sands, group chief executive of Standard Chartered, will be honored for their business leadership, commitment to corporate social responsibility and their work towards health and educational empowerment for the benefit of Africa. The program will also includes remarks by alumni from D.E.F. beneficiary schools; African Leadership Academy and CIDA City Campus, both located in Johannesburg and both models for access to higher education for African youth.

The event at Altitude 360, with its panoramic views of London’s skyline, will bring together a mixture of international leaders in the world’s diamond market, London’s business, social and philanthropic communities, and current supporters of the D.E.F. mission. It will raise money through an exclusive live auction of lots consisting of diamond jewelry, travel packages and celebrity experiences. An online fundraising auction will coincide with the London event from November 2-30 on the Charitybuzz Web site.

The event’s co-chairs are Varda Shine, CEO of the Diamond Trading Company, Anna Martin, managing director, Diamonds & Jewellery Origination & Client Coverage, Standard Chartered Bank, and Justin Etzin, chairman of Altitude London and Seychelles Capital,

The non-profit Diamond Empowerment Fund's mission is to raise funds to go towards supporting education initiatives that will change the lives of African communities based around diamond mines alongside education for Africa.