New FINISH STRONG® Jewelry Collection

Media Contact:
Anne Dale Jeweller
985-626-4266
info@annedale.com

Mandeville, LA,
February 4, 2010

FINISH STRONG®
Inspired a City, a Team and a Jewelry Designer

New Orleans, LA – Feburary 4, 2010 – Anne Dale Jeweller, LLC has teamed up with FINISH STRONG, LLC to design, manufacture and distribute an official FINISH STRONG® jewelry collection.

“This is a very exciting partnership with a powerful message that will be the center piece of the designs,” said Mandeville jeweler Anne Dale. “Thanks to the cause-related collection of jewelry that has been created in recent years, we have developed the capability of exceptional detail and artistry. I am confident that we provide an assortment of jewelry unlike any seen before. The `FINISH STRONG’ mentality has energized all of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. My vision with jewelry design is that it should serve as a conduit to inspire others-that `Finish Strong’ can do the same for you.”

“`Finish Strong’ captures the hope and determination of people in a big way,” said Dan Green, the founder of Finish Strong LLC and executive vice-president of Simple Truths. “It has become a new battle cry that inspires tens of thousands; two words that express the vigorous efforts and boundless courage which inspire an entire city – to FINISH STRONG!”

Green is a former salesman, sales leader, sales trainer, patented inventor, race car driver, author, husband and father.  The finishing strong attitude has been a driving force in his life and a key catalyst for helping him to achieve his goals in business, sports and life, he said.

Green said that he believes that others could benefit from the same attitude.  He received trademark rights to the words “Finish Strong” in 1996 and since that time, he has had the mission of spreading the message of finishing strong to people across the globe.

The `FINISH STRONG’ Collection will offer several styles that incorporate a Fleur de Lis, and which also express New Orleans celebration of recent triumphs in overcoming past struggles. Fans of the Anne Dale Collections can expect inspired works that focus on the human spirit and the instinctive nature to expect more and “Finish Strong,” Dale said.

The Anne Dale Collection of original jewelry contains designs that have helped to raise money, awareness and the spirits of people in need. Pieces include The Self-esteem pendant™, the military Star of Hope Collection™, the Love New Orleans Collection, the Facing Autism Collection™ and the Rising Star.  They are available nationwide through a network of charity partners and retail stores and jewelers.

Through the sales of her jewelry collection, The Anne Dale Jeweler for a Cause Fund has raised and distributed money for many causes that include hurricane recovery, birth defects, self-esteem, soldiers, and cancer prevention.

By Debbie Glover

St. Tammany News

Published on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 11:20 AM CDT

Times are tough for charities, but many are finding the heart of gold at the end of the rainbow in jeweler Anne Dale.

The Gold Charity Event they are conducting in Mandeville this month will benefit the charity of the customer’s choice. Just bring in unwanted, broken or outdated jewelry to the store.

Dale will pay cash to sellers and then donate a portion of the recycling proceeds to a local charity, including Project Graduation, Food Bank, Hospice of the South, Support our War Heroes, Bone Marrow Registry, KidSense playgrounds for special needs children, Easter Seals and the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force. line program which began after hurricane Katrina and continues to raise money from sales

Not only does the recycling gold event give members and friends of an organization a chance to sell old jewelry and receive cash for items that are collecting dust, it recycles precious metals, which helps alleviate the need for further mining and damage to our environment.

It is also a unique way to raise thousands of dollars for great causes.

The Gold Charity Event is part of Anne Dale’s “Know What it Means” fashionable jewelry for charity. Modeled from 1960’s school paper drives, this event gives everyone the chance to be part of a solution while selling their unwanted precious metals and old jewelry for cash.

“Anne Dale is a long time sponsor of our unique special-needs playgrounds that are designed and donated to area public schools,” said LeAnne Cantrell of KidSense.

Dale also sells a KidSense puzzle piece as part of her Jewelry for a Cause line that benefits the building of the playgrounds. The latest sensory playground, built especially for special needs children, is planned for Magnolia Trace Elementary and Lake Harbor Middle Schools in Mandeville. Cantrell said, “Anne Dale is helping make this dream a reality.”

Help your favorite charity and clean out those tangled-beyond-repair gold chains by bringing them to Anne Dale Jewelry this week.

Source:

St. Tammany News

Anne Dale is teaming up with local charities, schools and organizations to provide an exciting opportunity to turn unwanted gold items into cash!

It’s Simple

For a limited time Anne Dale will pay top dollar for unwanted, broken and outdated jewelry on the spot. Then donate a portion of the recycling profits to a participating charity of the customer’s choice.

Sell your unwanted\outdated gold jewelry with confidence and ease to one of New Orleans finest jewelers. Anne Dale known for honesty and fairness in selling fine jewelry for over twenty-five years now is using the same Golden Rule in buying unwanted gold jewelry.

Everybody Wins

• you receive immediate cash
• raise money for your school or charity
• recycling the gold
• in a professional environment
• dealing with a name you can trust – Anne Dale.

Anne Dale evaluates unwanted jewelry items for the scrap gold value with school teacher Dione Yager and LeAnne Cantrell of KidSense Playgrounds.

After paying cash Anne Dale will donate a percentage of the refiner’s proceeds to KidSense benefiting children with autism.

You asked – We listened

Anne Dale a certified jewelry appraiser has been advising people on the value of their jewelry for nearly twenty-five years.

In many cases jewelry items have an intrinsic value (above the scrap value) examples would be vintage or estate jewelry which would most likely receive a higher return at auction.

Receive the most value from your unwanted jewelry items while helping a local charity all in a comfortable professional environment dealing with a name you can trust – Anne Dale.

Calculate the value of your gold

10 Karat gold is 41.7% percent pure gold. 14 Karat gold is 58.3% pure gold. 18k Karat gold is 75% pure gold. 24 Karat is pure gold.

Example:

If pure gold is trading at $900 an ounce and you have one ounce of 14Kt gold you would take $900 then multiply it by 58.5% which gives you a value of $526.50 in pure gold.

While you will not receive the actual market value it is the basis of the jewelry’s scrap value. The amount of cash you receive depends upon the gold buyers cost of doing business (rent, employees, insurances etc.), the operations profit margin and several technical factors including the gold refinery’s fee, burn off, under-karated gold items purchased, as well as other risk and security issues.

Receive immediate cash payment!

* Ask about collecting old jewelry for your church, school or non-profit organization as a charity event.

Call or stop in today for details.

When I was a little girl (on the southshore) my friends and I would often play “tag”… recently I found out about a whole new kind of “tagging“.

I received a noticed that I had been “tagged” in a photo on FaceBook. Upon opening the image it was (not me) but the beautiful and talented Amanda Shaw. At first I thought it was a mistake but still loved the picture of Amanda.

I was surprised when ”Anne Dale Jeweller” appeared in text over the peace sign earring she was wearing – “TAGGED”

I first meet the extraordinary Amanda Shaw shortly after hurricane Katrina when she was featured in a video promoting my New Orleans Collection, I am a huge fan every since.

Over the years Amanda has stopped by the shop to visit and see what’s new and hip that might fit her unique image… like the “peace symbol” earrings.

Amanda is leading a new generation of New Orleans superstars artist… carrying on the regions great tradition of music. You can see Amanda Shaw this weekend at the Gretna Heritage Festival.

So thanks for the “tagging me” Amanda… also I like to ”tag“ Greg Livaudais Photography for taking such a great shot (jewelry is very difficult to photograph) especially during a live performance!

You can see Amanda sporting her “PEACE” earrings from Anne Dale Jeweller in the picture above.

* By the way if you have not seen IMAX’s Hurricane on the Bayou it is a must see staring Amanda Shaw and Tab Benoit.

Two things weather the storms of life – Love and Diamonds

Volumes of stories have been told at New Orleans jewelry counters over the years; it is as if the diamonds and gemstones I deal in are recorders of history – my customers’ rites of passage.

Engagements, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, as well as the difficult times such as divorce, death and inheritance often require my expertise as a jeweler. Jewelry is arguably the most spiritual of all physical products in the marketplace this is true for all races, religions, cultures and periods in history.

My job description often falls somewhere between a priest, bartender and party planner, currently writing the final pages of my first book in which I recall many jewelry stories. One story many years ago is of a young man that struggled walking his slurred speech was difficult to understand as he purchased a ring for his girlfriend.

Months later his older sister (a saint and prominent attorney) would find her way into the jewelry store to thank me…she told me his story – a brain injury (automobile accident) and how he had sold his television to purchase the ring for his girlfriend.

I put together a selection of rings for the man to choose from… the sister realized his money would not have covered the cost of the ring chosen and she wanted to pay me the balance. With laughter and tears I embraced his loving sister and explained that I had earned something you can not buy with money.

Another…..Just this week one of my very best customers (friend) surprised me with a bottle of champagne, picking up a long awaited purchase. A stunning diamond necklace definitely not for everyday wear but one of those “special occasions only” jewelry items (50th birthday gift), we popped open the bottle (the cork went flying) we toasted and enjoyed the bubbly.

Later, I reflected on the many events in my customer’s lives, personal\family events that through jewelry I had been a part. Each of the many fine jewelry items over that period represent chapters in their life, as if the diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls and gold were “story keepers” – that is what makes these stones and metals – “precious“.

Saint Joseph Abbey Retreat

Covington, Louisiana

June 26 -28th

Immaculée shared her miraculous story of how she survived during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 during a retreat at the Saint Joseph Abbey Monastery.

It’s an amazing story.  Immaculee was 22 years old and home for Easter Break from her second year of college when the Genocide began. She survived by hiding in a Pastor’s tiny bathroom 4′ x 3′ feet for 91 days with seven other starving women.

After reading her book, Left to Tell which is life altering, I was inspired to create a piece of jewelry for her as a reminder of her spirit, mission of love and forgiveness.

The piece is called “Jewel of Africa”, consisting of a silhouette of Africa in gold with a diamond set in Rwanda.

Engraved on the back are the names of her father, mother and two brothers who were killed during the genocide.  I was moved to tears when she turned the piece over and read their names from her heart.

Immaculée shows us how to embrace the power of prayer, forge a profound and lasting relationship with God, and discover the importance of forgiveness and the meaning of truly unconditional love and understanding — through our darkest hours.

Master diamond cutter Gabi Tolkowsky best known for cutting the Centenary Diamond which in its rough weighed 599 carats and is classified as being the highest color grade.

Gabi told me the Centenary Diamond is known for its excellent quality yet another diamond deserved much attention…

…the largest diamond ever cut he faceted… a stone that did not get as much attention the “Unnamed Brown” or the “Ugly Duckling” became known as “The Golden Jubilee”.

In Gabi’s hands it became “The Magnificent Swan.”

JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show

Educational Workshop

Thursday May 28, 2009

JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show

Join Anne Dale and learn how this socially minded independent jeweler developed a unique market niche by creating cause related jewelry designs that raise money, awareness and the spirits of people in need.

Jeweler for a Cause emerged from the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina as a collection of original jewelry designs by New Orleans jeweler Anne Dale.

Anne’s designs include the Facing Autism Collection™, Self-esteem pendant™, the military Star of Hope Collection™, the New Orleans Louisiana Collection, Perseverance pendant, PAUSE pendant and continues to grow with inspired works. Each item comes with a short essay explaining the cause and inspiration behind the original Anne Dale design.

The Jeweler for a Cause Collection is available nationwide through a network of charity associations and retail jewelers while being proudly Made in the U.S.A.

Other Panelists at this JCK workshow:
David Rocha – Jewelers for Children
Russell Simmons – Diamond Empowerment Fund

In this part of the country, many people erect an altar to Saints Joseph in their homes, but Anne Dale of Mandeville wanted to share it with her community and customers, so she created the altar in her jewelry store on Saint Ann Drive.

“I want to reach out and give back to the community,” Dale said. “St. Joseph is really all about community.”

The altar itself is imposing. Built on three levels, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, the altar not only contained statues of Joseph and Mary, crucifixes and candleabras, but also it was laden with all the wonderful Italian food and pastries. All of Dale’s jewelry cases are covered with Italian flags, and customers and well-wishers wandered around the altar admiring its beauty and all that food.
Shown is the Saint Joseph’s altar that was built in the jewelry store of Anne Dale in Mandeville. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

This is the second year Dale has built a Saint Joseph’s altar. Last year she put it in her house, then her friend Sandra Scalise convinced Dale to put it in her shop.

“The altar is all about abudanza, abundance,” Scalise said. “It is meant to bring people together, and it is a labor of love.”

Usually, people build an altar to St. Joseph in appreciation of the saint answering their prayers. Dale said she built the altar to “thank him for all my blessings.”

Dale has been a successful businesswoman in Mandeville for 10 years. Originally from New Orleans, she has even started a line of jewelry called “I Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans,” and the proceeds go to help the rebuilding effort after Hurricane Katrina and to local food banks. Her biggest seller is a silver fava bean necklace. The fava bean is a staple of St. Joseph altars and is meant to bring good luck to those who have one.

Building the altar was a community and family affair. Dale’s husband, Michael, built the three levels, which took about a week. Eight women, including Dale’s mother, Diane Ferrara, cooked all the food, including pasta, meats, cookies, bread and cakes.

“It took us about a month. Everybody made something,” Dale said. “I baked over 3,000 cookies, and my mother made the red gravy.”

She added that customers and friends of all denominations came in to help.

Next to the altar was a framed list of all the people who helped create the altar.

There was also a box for people’s petitions to St. Joseph. Scalise said St. Joseph is a saint “of may hats.” He is the patron saint for the dying, social justice, the worker and the family. The prayers in the petition box were to be taken to Saint Joseph’s Abbey.

New Orleans and its environs have many people who celebrate St. Joseph’s Day, but it is in Sicily, Italy, where St. Joseph is really big, according to Dale’s father, Paul Ferrara, a jazz drummer who played with Louis Prima, Al Hirt, and other famous New Orleans’ musicians. His ancestors came from the Sicilian village of Contessa Entellina.

“Half the houses in the town have St. Joseph altars,” Ferrara said.

He said the Greek Orthodox church in the village brings out the statue of St. Joseph, and there is a big parade through the streets all the way to the town’s Catholic church.

Ferrara said there is a band, and at the end of the parade there is a fireworks display.

“Then everyone goes home and eats. The people do not eat meat from the end of Christmas until St. Joseph’s Day,” Ferrara said.

For Dale, the altar is just a way to help others and to bring the community together. Not only does she help out the local food banks and other charities, but traditionally, all the food on the altar is donated to the poor and homeless. Dale said all the food on her altar will go to feed the homeless at Ozanam Inn in New Orleans.

Though St. Joseph’s Day is tomorrow, Dale said that “sadly” she had to take down the altar Saturday night. However, she assures everyone the altar will be rebuilt in her store next year.

source: Saint Tammany News

New Orleans a major port of entry for Sicilian immigrants during the late 19th century like the French Canadians, Africans, Irish, and Germans they brought a unique set of (Italian) traditions and values with them. It is this collective history and heritage in New Orleans that makes up such a rich and diverse culture of people. The Feast of Saint Joseph a cultural tradition that has deep roots within the hearts of people in South Louisiana.

The annual Saint Joseph Altar at Anne Dale’s jewelry store continues the New Orleans tradition while honoring our family’s Catholic Italian ancestry of Ferrara, Catanese, Maestri and Labadini names.

The altar open to any visitor who wishes to pay homage, no need to be Italian, Catholic or a native of New Orleans. Join us and try some great Italian cookies, pasta, get a blessed New Orleans “lucky bean” and enjoy the culture.

In the traditionally of the Saint Joseph Altar in which the food is distributed to charity, a donation box for non-perishable food items as well as a place for monetary gifts, all of which will go to the Covington Food Bank is on site. The Covington Food Banks collects and give assistance with food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials to those that meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines in the tri-parish communities of St.Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes. 

Saint Joseph’s Day is also celebrated in other American communities that have larger populations of Italians such as New York, Chicago and Rhode Island but it is best known here in the Big Easy.