Business Wire India The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) announced a powerful program for its "Diamonds Do Good" Awards gala set for June 4 at the Four Seasons Ballroom in Las Vegas. Iconic retailer Helzberg Diamonds will receive the Corporate Legacy of Philanthropy Award, Mrs Graça Machel Mandela, former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa will receive the first-ever "Diamonds Do Good" Global Humanitarian Award and acclaimed actor and social justice advocate David Oyelowo, who starred in such films as Selma and A United Kingdom, will receive the International Vanguard Award.
 
D.E.F's "Diamonds Do Good" Corporate Legacy of Philanthropy Award celebrates the actions a company's takes to better the lives of the local community while making a difference on the global stage. For over 100 years, Helzberg Diamonds has epitomized this ideal.
 
Barnett Helzberg's good business skills and sense of community responsibility helped grow his Kansas City-based jewelry stores even during the Great Depression, when his 'Helzberg Sweetheart Hour' sponsored radio program provided uplifting entertainment to listeners each week. He provided counseling for the Girl Scouts, support for the Kansas City Zoo, and established the Diamond Council of America. When his son Barnett Jr. took over this tradition continued. Barnett Jr. developed the 'I am loved' line and button promotion, which became a hallmark campaign of goodwill sent to celebrity 'heroes', military men serving in the Vietnam War, children in hospitals and was eventually translated into more than 11 languages.
 
Under the leadership of Beryl Raff, in 2012 the company established "Helzberg Helps," made up of Helzberg Diamonds associates. It leads fundraising efforts and organizes volunteer activities for charitable entities that support the benefit of children and families in need, such as Make-A-Wish, Salvation Army, Children's Mercy Hospital, and more. Since 2009, Helzberg's largest charitable efforts have been in support of Make-A-Wish America, helping to grant the wishes of children throughout the country.
 
Graça Machel has been a social and political activist for 40 years. She was First Lady of Mozambique when married to Samora Machel from 1975 until his death in 1986; and later became First Lady of South Africa from 1988 to 1999, when married to Nelson Mandela. Today, as the Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, her work focuses on women's economic and financial empowerment, education, food security and nutrition, and promoting democracy and good governance.
 
Born in Mozambique, Graça was appointed Minister for Education and Culture when she was 29 years old. Upon her retirement from the ministry, she was appointed an expert of the UN Secretary General and was responsible for producing the groundbreaking report on the protection of children in armed conflict. A strong advocate for women's and children's rights, she was made a British dame for her humanitarian work. She has recently been appointed as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate.
 
The Graça Machel Trust works to amplify the voices of Africa's women and children. It catalyses action, supports local initiatives, lends solidarity and offers support both publicly and behind the scenes with power brokers. The Trust recently launched two pan-African Initiatives: the Women Advancing Africa Forum and the Women in Media Network.
 
The International Vanguard Award reflects David Oyelowo's visionary work in the arts and in the education of vulnerable girls in Nigeria. Born in England to Nigerian parents of royal lineage, Mr. Oyelowo's acting achievements celebrate leading historical personalities such as Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights activists in the film Selma and, most recently, Sir Seretse Khama in the film A United Kingdom, where Oyelowo's performance highlights Botswana's role as a leading diamond-producing nation and how diamonds are used to benefit the country and its people.
 
Mr. Oyelowo's own passion for inspiring positive change and social justice is represented in his work with the GEANCO Foundation and the newly created David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls, which provides opportunity for young Nigerian girls to become the next leaders in their community and their country.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets/sponsorships for the Diamonds Do Good Awards gala, please visit diamondsdogoodawards.org
About the Diamond Empowerment Fund:
 
The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a global non-profit based in New York City and co-founded by Russell Simmons, De Beers Group of Companies, and other leaders in the diamond industry in 2007 to empower youth from diamond communities around the world through access to higher education. Its beneficiaries include: Veerayatan, based in Gujarat, India is a model for encouraging development of responsible citizens who are educated, have strong integrity and a motivation to give back to their community. D.E.F supports students attending its colleges of Pharmacy, Business Administration and Engineering; The Botswana Top Achievers program provides the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development; The African Leadership Academy, a university preparatory school in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable development on the continent and drawing students from all 54 countries in Africa.
 
Website: www.diamondempowerment.org. 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondempowermentfund/
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