Pay It Forward

Hurricane Katrina survivors thank volunteers by keeping of kindness going

Most of us will never forget the images of Hurricane Katrina that are burned into our memories. One such person is small business owner Anne Dale, of Anne Dale Jeweller in Mandeville, La.

Anne and her family were among the millions affected by Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. All of the members of her family were able to escape the devastation relatively unharmed. One of her sisters had to be rescued by boat; another sister had over 2-feet of water in her home, and Dale’s business was damaged by water. She also had no electricity in her home for over a month and had no water for quite some time.

Nevertheless, the damage did not stop them from lending a helping hand to less fortunate members of the community.

Soon after the Hurricane died down, Dale starting dancing with the idea of creating some jewelry designs to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

It started with a lapel pin that she designed specifically to hand out to some of the heroes of Hurricane Katrina, the first responders. Dale said she initially cast about 17 of the pins and drove to a nearby police station to give them to the police chief.

“As I was driving back to the store, I got a phone call from the Police Chief, Peter Dale,” Anne said. “He told me that he had someone in his office and that this person wanted to buy my Katrina piece. Little did I know, it was Dan Akroyd and he wanted to purchase 500 of them. I told him I could definitely handle that.”

In addition to the lapel pin, Dale designed other jewelry pieces to create an entire New Orleans Louisiana Collection, with which she raised over $175,000 in hurricane relief money.

Dale has since established a collection called “Jeweler for a Cause” which features a growing number of jewelry designs that raise money for a variety of non-profit causes. Among the pieces featured in that collection are the “I Believe” self-esteem pendant, raising money for the Vascular Birthmark Foundation; the Silver Star of Hope pendant and pin, raising money for various soldiers/veterans organizations; and her next, which is an Autism piece.

Dale added that she’s been overwhelmed with the response that she’s gotten from the “cause pieces.” “People would come into the store and there would be a line to buy these pieces,” she said. “Without speaking a word, you look at these people that are coming in and you know they’ve been through it, too. It helps with the healing process as well, as people will stop them when they are wearing the jewelry and ask them what it is. Everyone is always willing to share their Katrina stories.”

Because Amy Sins knows the healing power of food, this Hurricane Katrina survivor felt compelled to bring some Cajun cooking to the victims of the 2008 Midwest flood victims.

Sins led a group of 15 volunteers, calling themselves New Orleans Cooks, from Louisiana to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they were able to serve over 1,700 meals, thanks to over 1,500 pounds of food donated by local restaurants, food manufacturers, grocery stores, and residents.

“We had this great group from a church in Pennsylvania help us gut our home and get back on our feet after the hurricane, so I felt like I wanted to do something to give back,” Sins said.

Before Hurricane Katrina hit, Sins, a cooking enthusiast, spent every Sunday evening eating dinner with her mom and grandparents. Sins said she was devastated by the loss of her collection of handwritten recipes, passed down from family and friends.

“The first thing that I went to look at when we first went back to the house was my cookbooks and recipe cards,” Sins said. “The first ones that I was able to locate were just a disaster. We had so much mud in the house that almost all of them were completely destroyed and not readable. I felt like they were more than just recipes, when you consider that they were written in my grandmother’s and great-grandmothers handwriting.”

Another positive thing that came out of Sins’ Katrina experience is her book, titled Ruby Slippers Cookbook: Culture, Family and Food After Katrina.

“One thing about Louisiana is that everyone has the perfect recipe for something,” Sins said. “I would drive around and ask people if they had any family recipes that they wanted to share. I was fortunate enough to get a lot of really great recipes. The experience for me was really more than just about writing a cookbook; it provided me an opportunity to talk about the resiliency and the kindness of the people of Louisiana.”
Lynn Celmer

Issue: Sep/Nov 2008
Section: Best Neighbors

 Source: America’s Best Magazine

Anne Dale
By WGSO
Wednesday, May 07 2008

Rating 5.0/5

A real Southern lady, jewelry designer Anne Dale can be heard Saturday mornings on WGSO’s The Anne Dale Show. Anne is the daughter of famed New Orleans Jazz drummer Paul Ferrara playing with Al Hirt over 25 years and Louie Prima for 2 years. Anne has a rhythm all her own; besides owning Anne Dale Jeweller in Mandeville she has developed a line of jewelry to help people in need – Jeweler for a Cause.

The Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Collection rose out of the flood waters of hurricane Katrina with her I Love New Orleans jewelry designs. This expanding collection includes jewelry items for many causes raising money and awareness for people in need. The Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Collection is available to over 40,000 jewelry outlets nationwide, Made in Louisiana and has raised nearly $200,000.00 proceeds to help people in need.

Listen in Saturday Mornings to learn more about jewelry design, diamonds/gemstones romance/relationships as Anne offers interesting conversation and interviews with local and national movers and shakers.

Anne Dale is owner of Anne Dale Jeweller in Mandeville, former director of Gem-A USA (the U.S. branch of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain), a well respected gemologist within the jewelry industry, a public speaker on diamonds/gemstones and expert witness for the Internal Revenue Service.

Anne is a past recipient of The Diamond in the Rough by the Association of Women Gemologist, elected to the Republican State Central Committee District 74B, Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Women of Saint Tammany, and voted Best Jewelry Store on the North Shore in 2007.

Source: WGSO Website

By Chad Ruiz
St. Tammany News

Patriotic.

That’s how best to describe Mandeville jeweler Anne Dale.

While sitting in one of the plush chairs in her jewelry shop at 12 Saint Ann Drive, she cradles a sterling silver star pendant close to her heart as she professes her dedication to the service personnel who have and are serving in the U.S. military.

Anne Dale’��s latest addition to her Jeweler for a Cause Collection is this sterling silver star. (Use arrows above to view more photos)

Tears collect in her eyes when she defines our role as Americans.

“If the decision is made to go to war, as Americans, we are obligated to support our soldiers who are fighting for our freedom,” she said.

To honor military personnel, her latest addition to her Anne Dale’s Jeweler for a Cause Collection is the Silver Star of Hope.

She said the collection contains about 10 handcrafted jewelry pins or pendants that promote different themes, including several New Orleans pieces, a self-esteem pendant and now the newest member, the Silver Star of Hope.

The collection is for a cause, because a percentage of the proceeds from each piece is gathered and donated to various nonprofit organizations.

She handed over the silver pendant while explaining the meaning behind the solid sterling silver star brandishing a bow attached to its middle.

She said the star represents the Silver Star which is the third highest award given for valor to a member of any branch of the armed forces. The bow symbolizes the yellow ribbon which, when displayed, is a sign of loyalty for loved ones participating in the military.

“Some have cried,” she said, recalling some of the emotions expressed when people saw her pendant for the first time after it reached the shelf earlier this year.

She extracted a small slip of paper from the nearby case of the pendant.

“Each star comes with this,” she said, describing a poem titled “The Soldier” written by Father Dennis Edward O’Brien.

“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

Made in the U.S.A., the star costs $39.95 and can be purchased in Dale’s store, online at www.annedale.com or at one of more than 40,000 retail jewelers nationwide as a pendant, to wear as a necklace or bracelet or as a pin.

A portion of the proceeds from each star gets deposited into Dale’s fund until enough is collected to distribute to an organization devoted to helping soldiers or veterans.

Dale said their most recent donations using monies earned included giving to the nonprofit organizations Support Our War Heroes and Soldiers’ Angels.

Since the star was created, Dale has received an autographed picture and thank you letter from First Lady Laura Bush.

Dale said they have sold nearly 300 stars to date and average five to 10 purchases per day.

Source:

Saint Tammany New 4/30/08 

Your voice has been heard. Your votes for favorite Northshore people, businesses, places and services have been tallied for Sophisticated Woman’s 2007 Northshore’s Best survey.

The results are featured in a special pull-out section of Sophisticated Woman’s April 2008 issue.

Veiw Source

New Orleans based designer Anne Dale introduces

“I Believe” the self-esteem pendant.

(New Orleans, Louisiana) “I Believe,” the self-esteem pendant, is simply a hand covering a portion of the face as to shield a perceived imperfection. Anne believes the pressures placed on our youth (by popular culture) to “be perfect” have never been higher, and this pendant sends the message, “you are beautiful just the way you are.”

As an industry, how many sales have we lost to the distorted beauty industry in Botox, nips, tucks and silicone? “I Believe” the self-esteem pendant, is just a small step to slowing this tide down and perhaps creates some discussion on what makes a healthy self-image.

The back of the sterling silver pendant is engraved with, “Beauty Comes From Within” followed by a heart symbol and Anne Dale’s signature. A small card will be included explaining the meaning of the piece with each pendant.

The primary target market is young girls from junior high to college age, but this piece is nice enough for any age and is also available as a lapel pin for the guys.

A portion of the proceeds goes into the Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Fund.
New Orleans based Anne Dale raised over $175,000 in hurricane relief money with her New Orleans Collection designs. The New Orleans Collection was so successful Anne Dale and Stuller, Inc. are teaming-up again to develop a larger designer line, “Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause.”

The “I Believe” pendant is just one of a Anne Dale’s original designs that have significant specific meaning, related to worthy causes raising both money and awareness for non-profit groups in need.

For more information about the Anne Dale Collection call Stuller, Inc. at 800-877-7777 or visit www.stuller.com and search the site for Anne Dale.

E-mail info@annedale.com for more information on Anne Dale, Jeweler for a Cause Fund.

Source - Southern Jewelry News

New Orleans—After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Mandeville, La.-based jewelry designer and retailer Anne Dale partnered with Stuller to manufacture a pin that would serve as a symbol of the city’s recovery and a badge of courage for those enduring the hurricane’s wake.

Since Dale began selling the “New Orleans Collection,” which includes the “I Know What It Means to Love New Orleans Badge” as well as earrings, rings and pendants, she has raised more than $175,000 in hurricane relief funds.

Now, Dale is partnering with Stuller once again. The Lafayette, La.-based jewelry supplier will produce Dale’s “Jeweler for a Cause” designs, a growing collection that raises money and awareness for a variety of non-profit causes.

Among the pieces featured in the collection is the “I Believe” self-esteem pendant. Retailing for $29.95, the pendant is inscribed with the words “I am loved,” promoting the message that everyone is beautiful just as they are.

So far, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the pendant have been donated to the Vascular Birthmark Foundation, a New York-based organization that connects families affected by birthmarks, vascular tumors and syndromes to medical professionals and programs that promote the acceptance of people living with such marks.

At the foundation’s annual conference held in November, Dale presented the group with a donation of $5,000.

At least six designs are currently in the works, and Dale’s goal with her recently established “Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Fund” is to raise money for non-profit groups throughout the United States and abroad. With Stuller’s help, she is well on her way. The partnership with the supplier allows Dale’s designs to be available to Stuller’s 40,000 jewelry accounts worldwide.

Source - National Jeweler Network

Vascular Birthmark Foundation

New Orleans jewelry designer Anne Dale donates $5000.00 to the Vascular Birthmark Foundation at the November 2007 Annual VBF Conference held in Newport Beach, California.
“I Believe” the self-esteem pendant (pictured below) is one of the Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause designs that raises money and awareness for non-profit worthy causes.

The Vascular Birthmark Foundation (based in New York) organization networks families affected by birthmarks, vascular tumors, and syndromes to the appropriate medical professionals and programs that promote the acceptance of people living with birthmarks.Pictured: (Anne’s son) Stephen Dale, jewelry designer Anne Dale, President of the Vascular Birthmark Foundation Linda Shannon, Glen of Glen’s Gang, John Alton. Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause is growing and pieces are being added to the collection constantly. Anne has over a half dozen designs in the works and is currently working with several other non-profit groups both on a state and national level partnering with these groups to raise money and awareness.

Self-Esteem
The “I Believe” self-esteem pendant simply put:
“You are beautiful just the way you are.”At $29.95 ever young (and not so young) girl should have this pendant around her necka little message that says, “I am loved”.Today’s pop culture and mass media promote a narrow view of beauty, defining beauty in a distorted, sexual stereo-type manner.Expectations put on children, in particular teenage girls are unrealistic and unhealthy, often resulting in low self-esteem and depression as these girls are developing their self-image.This original design is part of the Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Campaign.
A portion of the proceeds will go to non-profit groups helping children with self-esteem issues such as the Vascular Birthmark Foundation.“I Believe” the self-esteem pendant is Made in Louisiana and available through nearly 40,000 retail jewelers nationwide.

Jeweler for a Cause
Anne Dale jewelry designer from New Orleans finds inspiration in worthy causes. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated her home town, she designed a pin she calls the “I Know What It Means to Love New Orleans Badge”. Her simple idea was to create a gift for first responders in appreciation for their heroic efforts. Anne’s noble idea created a storm in itself making her design the symbol of the city’s recovery and a badge of courage for everyone that endured the aftermath of Katrina. Anne’s New Orleans Collection jewelry designs have raised over $175,000.00 in hurricane relieve money.

Today, Anne Dale again partners with jewelry industry giant Stuller Inc. based in Lafayette, Louisiana producing Anne Dale’s Jeweler for a Cause designs. This partnership allows Dale’s original designs to be available to Stuller Inc. 40,000 jewelry accounts worldwide. The Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Fund has been established, in this fund goes a portion of the proceeds from each and every piece sold. Anne Dale’s goal is to raise money and awareness for non-profit groups throughout the United States and aboard.

Spring of 2008 Anne Dale will launch:
Traditions the Louisiana Collection celebrating the cultural treasurers

Source - Vascular Birthmark Foundation

New Orleans Jeweler Anne Dale

New Orleans—Today marks the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating tour through New Orleans, and the city is still in a state of recovery.

Retailer Anne Dale of Anne-Dale Jeweller, based in Mandeville, La., just across Lake Pontchartrain from the city of New Orleans, is one local who has taken an active role in aiding hurricane victims.

To date, sales of her New Orleans jewelry from “The Anne Dale Collection,” specially created to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina, total more than $170,000.

The collection includes badges, pendants, rings and earrings that read “I Know What It Means to Love New Orleans,” “Pray for the Gulf Coast” and “Return to New Orleans.”

A portion of net proceeds from the sales of the collection has been donated to Catholic Charities, Light House for the Blind, Friends of the Frontline and Volunteers of America, as well as a number of churches and schools in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Prices for pieces in the Anne Dale Collection range from $29.95 for a sterling silver badge to $399.95 for a 14-karat gold badge.

To make a purchase or to find out more about Anne-Dale Jeweller’s beneficiary charities, visit annedale.com.
National Jeweler

Mandeville, La.—After Hurricane Katrina, jewelry stores were among the business casualties, and some area jewelers, fearing recovery would take a long time, even left town.

But Anne Dale, owner of Anne-Dale Jeweller in the New Orleans suburb of Mandeville, La., stayed, and says she is likely to post record sales this year, especially at Christmas—not so much despite the disaster as because of it. Her New Orleans-centric jewelry line has not only helped raise thousands of dollars for various charities and relief funds, it has raised her own profile and broadened her store’s customer base.

Dale collaborated with Stuller, the Lafayette, La.-based manufacturer, to produce the popularly priced jewelry. So far, $126,000 of the two companies’ profits have gone to disaster-relief charities.

“The jewelry says ‘courage’ and ‘nobility,’” Dale says. “It heightens awareness of the disaster worldwide. We’ve been filling orders from all over, nationally and internationally, because Stuller sells the jewelry through its 40,000 accounts around the world.”

The line’s flagship piece is a pin or pendant featuring a fleur-de-lis within a heart, which, combined with lettering above and below, carries the message “I Know What It Means To Love New Orleans.” Related pieces include a “Return To New Orleans” ring (in men’s and ladies’ models) that employs a fleur-de-lis, and a “Pray For The Gulf Coast” medallion/key chain featuring Mary and the baby Jesus. The line is available in sterling silver or 14-karat gold, with price points from $29.95 to $399.

In its quest to benefit groups such as the Covington Food Bank, Lighthouse for the Blind, Habitat for Humanity and numerous churches, the jeweler has also found an ally in some other local businesses.

“McIlhenny Co., the maker of Tabasco, is going to be selling our product on the Tabasco Web site, and it’s in their store on Avery Island,” Dale says.

The company also has several more stores in the New Orleans area. Dale herself has done TV appearances to promote the line, which has been an easy sell to the area’s residents.

“We have an additional 100,000 people living in St. Tammany Parish because of Katrina, and the trauma and tragedy have given them a greater desire to celebrate life and their loved ones,” Dale says. “Even before the holiday season, business increased because people want to commemorate family-oriented events, and we’ve seen a lot of post-Katrina marriages and babies.”

Anne-Dale’s, founded in 1986, is a single-unit, 2,200-square-foot carriage-trade jewelry store, located in a city with the highest per-capita income in Louisiana. Though its traditional focus has been engagement rings, bridal sets and unique colored-gemstone jewelry, Dale says she is trying to cater to the area’s altered population—not quite as well-heeled as it was before the storm—without sacrificing quality.

“We weighed the base product, the sterling silver badge, very carefully, so that we could price it at $29.95 and have it mean something to everyone, from all walks of life,” she says.

James Louviere, director of religious and family jewelry at Stuller, notes that the company has a long relationship with Anne-Dale Jeweller and that Dale, whose family has strong New Orleans ties, teaches a gemology course at Stuller’s workshops.

“Many people have the same emotional ties to the city that she has; in fact, customers sometimes come into her store to buy the jewelry crying,” Louviere says. “It’s hard to understand unless you’re from New Orleans.”

So far, the entire line has sold almost 33,000 pieces, he says.

“And as for the effectiveness of the ‘Pray For The Gulf Coast’ piece, I’ll point out that we haven’t had a major storm since it was introduced,” Louviere says.

Source - National Jeweler

Women join to better the community

One week is set aside every October to recognize women in our community who use their time and talent for the greater good of mankind. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but you might be surprised of the impact women have, for instance, in our local economy.

“Over 60 percent of the work force in St. Tammany Parish is women and women-owned businesses,” says Karen Hymel,West St.Tammany Business and Professional Women president.

That’s a pretty impressive number. Many of these working women aren’t just out to make a buck. They also take time out of their busy schedules to make ourcommunity a better place to live.

The 115 members of the West St.Tammany BPW meet at Beau Chene Country Club each month. The meetings are designed to give members and guests an opportunity to network with other businesswomen.

“I need to be able to pick up the phone and call someone in BPW because they know me and I know them and we take care of each other. And that’s what it’s all about,” says member Leslie Welliver with Paychex in Abita Springs.

As a first-time business owner, I decided to join BPW when I moved back to St.Tammany after Hurricane Katrina. It only took one meeting to realize how beneficial the business knowledge and experience of other members could be to my business.

I was also impressed that the monthly luncheons are used to come up with ways to help women in our community. BPW donates muscle and money to nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity’s Women’s Build, Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House and Women Building Forces, which helps military women make a smooth transition back into the work force.

“These are not just women who lunch,” says BPW member Katie Champagne-Reynolds with Rainbow Title in Mandeville. “This is where hard
work meets good intention, and the result is a better community to live in.”

For the past 10 years, the West St.Tammany Parish BPW has held a Woman of the Year banquet to honor women making a difference through theirjobs or volunteer work. Recipients include Dorothy Garcia for her work as director of the Children’s Advocacy Center, a place where abused children can seek refuge and counseling; and Anne Dale of Anne Dale Jeweler for donating $200,000 of jewelry proceeds to Katrina recovery efforts.

Nearly 20 women have been recognized at BPW Woman of the Year banquets and this year’s nominees and winner will be equally deserving of the honor.

What makes the banquet even more significant is that the money raised goes to the chapter’s scholarship fund. Last year $10,000 in scholarship money was
awarded to St.Tammany residents.

“Many are amazed that we offer scholarships to non-traditional roles, not just kids who are graduating from high school, but also women who are furthering their career or perusing a degree maybe for the first time,” says Champagne-Reynolds.When Louisiana State University Chancellor Sean O’Keefe heard about the chapter’s scholarship efforts, he agreed to be this year’s guest speaker.

You don’t have to be a member of BPW to attend the Woman of the Year banquet. The event, which also includes a silent auction, will be held Oct. 18 at Vintage Court in Covington. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $50 a person.To purchase tickets or to learn moreabout BPW, visit www.bpw-wst.org.

Stephanie Boswell, owner of Boswell
Business Consultants LLC in Mandeville,
can be reached at (504) 388-2076 or at
stephanie_bbcllc@bellsouth.net.

Source - NorthShore Report