The Gemological Institute of America Presents Check to Giuliani for Donation to Twin Towers Fund

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world's foremost authority in gemology, has donated nearly $130,000 to the relief funds established for the Sept. 11 victims. GIA Presented a check to former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on Feburary 5.

Carlsbad, Calif. - The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) presented a check for $43,000 to former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on February 5 as a donation to the Twin Towers Fund for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was one of three donations from GIA, totaling nearly $130,000, to three relief funds established to assist victims of the attacks. The donations from GIA represent the net proceeds from contributions to GIAs annual League of Honor Founders Dinner held in New York last October.

GIAs League of Honor Dinner is held annually to honor those who contribute to the Institutes education and research programs on behalf of the gem and jewelry industry. Proceeds from the event itself provide additional funding toward GIAs nonprofit mission. This year, however, GIA felt compelled to dedicate the events net proceeds to an even greater purpose, said the Institutes President, William E. Boyajian. GIA has strong ties to New York City, both through our education and laboratory services in Manhattan, and also because of our long experience with working with so many friends and supporters in the jewelry industry there, so we felt it was especially important to assist the relief efforts in a substantial way," he said.

GIAs Chief Development Officer, Linda Ellis, said the three funds selected to receive the Institutes contributions were the Twin Towers Fund, established by then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for families of members of the uniformed services of New York, The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, an education fund, and the September 11th Fund, for victims and families. We were deeply touched by the great outpouring of support from industry leaders worldwide who helped celebrate GIAs 70th anniversary while contributing to this important cause," said Ellis.