Gems to Jewels Donates one-of-a-kind jewelry gifts for TODAY Show Holiday Toy Drive

Gems to Jewels, a direct sales company that combines the best of home-party plans with the growing trend in hobby jewelry making, has created one-of-a-kind bracelets that they are donating to the 14th Annual TODAY Show Holiday Toy Drive.

Beavercreek, OH (PRWEB) November 30, 2007 -- Gems to Jewels (http://www.gemstojewels.com), a direct sales company that combines the best of home-party plans with the growing trend in hobby jewelry making, has created one-of-a-kind bracelets that they are donating to the 14th Annual TODAY Show Holiday Toy Drive. The Direct Selling Association, of which Gems to Jewels is a member company, has partnered with the TODAY show this year to donate more than $7 million in products and cash to the Toy Drive. In its four years of participation in the drive, DSA and its member companies have donated more than $28 million to the Toy Drive.

"Our participation in the Today Show Toy Drive is a perfect fit because Gems to Jewels is about creating jewelry, but also about celebrating individuality by allowing people to create one-of-a-kind pieces at our workshops," said Elena Kennedy. "Our talented consultants are joining the home office in donating pieces they designed themselves and we hope that these little girls will enjoy receiving gemstone and sterling silver bracelets that were designed with them in mind."

Gems to Jewels President Elena Kennedy announced the partnership during a phone conference with consultants on Tuesday. Gems to Jewels has committed to providing size 5 to size 7 bracelets that may be given as gifts to little girls, who will receive the gifts through a local charitable organization. Consultants are not required to donate the bracelets, but it fits perfectly with the company philosophy of creating more meaningful jewelry and consultants have decided to immediately begin designing their one-of-a-kind creations.

"Who doesn't love receiving a beautiful, meaningful, hand-made gift? And what little girl today doesn't love a little bling? I'm a single mother with two daughters, and there were times when they were younger when we received gift baskets from local charities. Times were hard. I love it that I can give back and imagine the pleasure one little girl will have when she puts her bracelet on her wrist -- I have only to picture my own girls when they were young," said Loreen Murphy, independent consultant.

Founders Elena and Steve Kennedy established Gems to Jewels in 2004 with a dream to teach people how exciting, fun and easy it is to create heirloom quality jewelry for themselves and their loved ones. Their inspiration came from Elena's grandmother who made jewelry for their wedding, creating cherished family heirlooms.

"Time is precious. We believe we should spend time doing things that are more meaningful, like creating jewelry alongside family and friends. It's an activity I treasure with my mother and my grandmother," said Elena Kennedy. "What's more fun than playing with gemstones? We'd design and create until we were so delighted with our creations that we didn't want to take them off!"

After completing their test market phase, the Kennedys launched the creative workshop plan in April 2006. Murphy signed-on this fall after discovering the company in an online search. Gems to Jewels appealed to her because customers don't just shop, they create beautiful gifts and leave the workshops feeling uplifted.

The TODAY show toy drive is a project of the Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are matched with the needs of more than 200 organizations with which the Today Show Charitable Foundation works. As part of this year's Toy Drive, DSA member companies will send items to about 170 organizations in states from California to New York. Forty-eight direct selling companies are participating in the drive this year. More information about the drive can be found on the DSA website: www.dsa.org.

About the Direct Selling Association
DSA is the trade association for the direct selling industry in the United States and represents the interests of more than 300 direct selling companies. More than 90 percent of U.S. domestic direct sales are conducted annually by these companies, many of which also have large global operations. In the U.S., direct selling is a $32 billion industry providing income opportunities for more than 15.2 million people. In the U.S., direct selling is defined as the sale of a consumer product or service, away from a fixed retail location. Worldwide sales exceed $109 billion via more than 58 million salespeople.

About Gems to Jewels
Gems to Jewels is an active member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA), the national trade association representing the leading firms that manufacture and distribute goods and services sold directly to consumers. All DSA members must abide by a strict Code of Ethics. Items selected for the Carat Collection are purchased from members of the American Gem Trade Association, the AGTA is an association of United States and Canadian natural colored gemstone and Cultured Pearl industry professionals dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone trade. The association ensures the highest ethical standards among its members and within the industry so that Gems to Jewels can offer top-quality, un-dyed gemstones. To learn more about Gems to Jewels, visit: www.gemstojewels.com

Media resources:
Elena Kennedy, president Gems to Jewels: Elena@gemstojewels.com, 888-309-5219
Loreen Murphy, independent consultant: Loreen@gemstojewels.com, 315-261-4258

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