The Kazanjian Foundation Launches Jewels for Charity Program and the Museum Collection Tour at Press Event on Rodeo Drive

Jewels for Charity Museum Collection features prized jewelry formerly owned by Hollywood celebrities

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (PRWEB) September 30, 2004 --- The Kazanjian Foundation, the charitable arm of the prominent jewelry company Kazanjian Bros., Inc., held a press event September 27 to launch Jewels for Charity, a unique program that provides individuals with an opportunity to donate fine jewelry to the charity of their choice and receive the highest tax benefit permitted by law. The high visibility press event themed Decades of Hollywood Glamour" was staged on Rodeo Drive at Tallarico Designs and honored, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Henry Mancini Institute -- all youth oriented charities. Jewels for Charity is the only known program in the world that can help turn old treasured jewelry into the treasure of life.

The press event focused on the Kazanjian Foundations aim to help youth oriented charities, standing on their belief that a child is more precious than a gem." The Kazanjian Foundations Jewels for Charity program makes the donation process simple and enjoyable, and helps individuals help those less fortunate.

Event highlights included the donation of a diamond ring by Jennifer Mancini, and once sold via Jewels for Charity, the proceeds will benefit the Henry Mancini Institute, whose mission is to nurture the future of music by providing comprehensive professional training and multi-level outreach programs. Actress Kate Linder, known for her role as Esther Valentine on "The Young and the Restless" donated a Rhonda Faber-Green 18 carat yellow gold and platinum rose design necklace, symbolizing the love she has for children. Her donation will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, who grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Two- time Academy award nominated songwriter, Carol Connors (Rocky theme Gonna Fly Now") donated a gold and diamond necklace to benefit Reef Check, a program that works with communities, governments and businesses to scientifically monitor, restore and manage the worlds coral reef health.

Mrs. James Kazanjian, wife of the founder of the Kazanjian Foundation, who celebrates her 100th birthday on September 29, 2004, has donated two pieces of jewelry that she has treasured over fifty years. Her donation of an emerald ring, and an emerald, pearl and diamond bracelet will benefit the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, who has been treating the most seriously ill and injured children in Los Angeles for more than a century.

Guests at the Jewels for Charity VIP press event enjoyed viewing the priceless Jewels for Charity Museum Collection; models wearing vintage Oleg Cassini gowns and estate jewelry from the turn of the century through the 1970s; and the latest modern jewelry from Tallarico Designs. In addition, rapper, Won-G wore what is considered to be the largest diamond mounted in a piece of jewelry in recognition of the need for aid to help all children. The necklace features a 500c rough diamond found in Africa that is mounted in a hedgehog setting.

The Kazanjian Museum Collection, includes:
•   8,500 carat Liberty Bell Ruby - cut from one of the worlds largest rubies found near what is believed to be King Solomons Mines in Africa. Standing 5 ½ inches tall, the Liberty Bell Ruby was sculptured out of a 7-pound rough ruby considered at the time by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the largest ruby ever unearthed.
•   1910 Edwardian $300,000 diamond tiara (765 old-cut diamonds of about 78 carats and two larger 2.5 carat diamonds -- worn by Madonna on her wedding day to Guy Ritchie, loaned to the singer/actress by Asprey & Garrand.
•   Clark Gables 18K Cartier wristwatch -- a gift from his fifth wife, former Kay Williams Spreckles. The back of the case bears the inscription, Pa Darling. I love you with all my heart."
•   A pocket watch given to Clark Gable by Marion Davies - engraved, To Clark, Remember Me? Love Marion."
•   Clark Gables Gold Edwardian motif cigarette case -- his gift to his third wife, actress Carole Lombard. This showy cigarette case has rubies, sapphires, and diamonds elegantly framing the monogram, LG" for Lombard and Gable.
•   Clark Gables 14K yellow gold cigarette case - presented to him by Capital Theatre with the actors initials CG" in diamonds on the cover.
•   Joan Collins Victorian snake necklace - set with old-cut diamonds, rubies and accented with blue enamel details. The English actress is famous for her role as Alexis Carrington in the Aaron Spelling TV series, Dynasty.
•   Howard Hughes gifts to wife Terry Moore - a retro 80-carat aquamarine bangle bracelet that Hughes rewarded Moore with after she made her first solo flight, along with a 50-carat aquamarine matching ring. Hughes taught Moore to fly, and he felt that the hue of the aquamarine represented the sky. When Moore gave up sweets for two months, Hughes gifted her with a pair of antique diamond earrings, also part of the Collection.

The Kazanjian Foundation sponsors the Jewels for Charity Collection Tour, which travels to fine jewelry stores, galleries and museums worldwide, featuring a collection of prized jewelry formerly owned and worn by Hollywoods A-list celebrities including Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Eva Gabor, and Madonna. Jewelry from such notables as the Shah of Iran and Howard Hughes, among others is also featured. The Kazanjian Foundation is organizing a tour throughout the United States that will exhibit this rare and unique collection of jewelry, with the hopes that it will raise awareness and encourage additional donations of estate jewelry to the Foundation. These important donated pieces are the corner stone of the Foundations philanthropy. It is through their sale that charities and individuals benefit.

In exchange for the opportunity to host the Jewels for Charity Collection Tour, the venues are asked to sell the jewelry that has been donated by individuals at full market value. To qualify, donated jewelry must be worth over $10,000 per piece. Items preferred include Art Deco, vintage and exclusive items.
The host venue joins the effort by giving up their normal profit in exchange for the opportunity to donate 30 percent of the proceeds to a local charity of its choice, while the remaining 70 percent goes to the donors charity of choice. One hundred percent of the Jewels for Charities operational costs are subsidized by the Kazanjian family who currently underwrites all operating expenses for the Foundation.

In the past, charities liquidated fine jewelry at wholesale rates, usually ten to twenty cents on the dollar. Jewels for Charity enables individuals and charities to obtain full fair market value for donated jewelry, often benefiting far more than from a liquidation sale. The IRS typically allows deductions at the lower of fair market value, or purchase price of the item. Since resale values are low, donors can often realize more after taxes through Jewels for Charity than by selling the jewelry first hand.

About Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has been treating the most seriously ill and injured children in Los Angeles for more than a century, and it is acknowledged throughout the United States and around the world for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. Childrens Hospital is one of Americas premier teaching hospitals, affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California for more than 72 years. It is a national leader in pediatric research.
Today, physician-scientists at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles address the most vexing pediatric medical problems and discover important new therapies for children everywhere, including advances in cancer care, gene transfer, stem cell and organ transplantation and diabetes. The Saban Research Institute is among the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, with approximately 90 investigators at work on more than 230 laboratory studies, clinical trials and community-based research and health services. It is one of the few free-standing research centers in the nation to combine scientific laboratory inquiry with patient clinical care -- dedicated exclusively to children - and its base of knowledge is widely considered to be among the best in pediatric medicine.
Since 1990, U.S. News & World Report and its panel of board-certified pediatricians have named Childrens Hospital Los Angeles one of the top pediatric facilities in the nation. For more information, visit: www.ChildrensHospitalLA.org.

About the Henry Mancini Institute
The Henry Mancini Institute (HMI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to nurture the future of music by providing comprehensive professional training and multi-level outreach programs that make a direct impact in people¹s lives. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the HMI was founded in 1997 by Jack Elliott in honor of his friend, Henry Mancini, to reflect their shared values of versatility as professionals and the desire to mentor young musicians. Now under the guidance of GRAMMY® and Emmy® Award-winning Artistic Director Patrick Williams, our cornerstone programs include the Summer Education Program for emerging professional musicians, Free Summer Music Festival, Community Outreach Initiative and Professional Alumni Ensembles Program. For more information about the Henry Mancini Institute, please visit us at www.manciniinstitute.org or call 310-845-1900.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles
Established in 1983, the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children throughout Los Angeles County who are battling life-threatening medical conditions. Working out of an office in West Los Angeles, the chapter has granted over 5,000 wishes to children countywide. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles go to www.wishla.org or call 310-788-9474.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 75 chapters in the United States and its territories and 27 international affiliates on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 127,000 wishes to children around the world since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 75 chapters in the United States and its territories and 27 international affiliates on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 127,000 wishes to children around the world since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org.

About Reef Check
Reef Check is a program that works with communities, governments and businesses to scientifically monitor, restore and maintain coral reef health. Reef Check objectives are to: educate the public about the coral reef crisis; to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check's scientific methods who regularly monitor and report on reef health; to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions; and to stimulate local community action
to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide.

About The Kazanjian Foundation
The Kazanjian Foundation, a 501c (3) non-profit organization, was established in 1957 to support scientific, artistic, cultural and other worthy causes. The Beverly Hills based Foundation emphasizes programs for disadvantaged and underprivileged youth, and also provides scholarships for promising inner-city youths. The establishment of the Foundation was motivated by the Kazanjian familys gratitude to the United States where their migrant forebears sought and found refuge in the early part of the previous century.

Headquartered at 9489 Dayton Way, Suite 300, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; Tel: 310.278.0811; Fax: 310.275.0713 or visit www.jewelsforcharity.org.

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