By Debbie Glover
St. Tammany News

Finish Strong

Dan Green, author of the now famous “Finish Strong” book, will sign copies of the book at Anne Dale Jewelers in Mandeville Friday from 3-6 p.m.

Who Dat JewelryDuring the off-season, each member of the New Orleans Saints read the book and some have credited the book’s commitment philosophy and can-do attitude for the team’s historic season.

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New FINISH STRONG® Jewelry Collection

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Media Contact:
Anne Dale Jeweller
985-626-4266
[email protected]

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 finish-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.

* Finish Strong is a registered trademark and is used under license.

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 with walking and slurred his speech. It made it 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, personalfamily 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

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

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.


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Perseverance pendant™
by Anne Dale

Courage is the first of all human virtues… yet

Perseverance is much more than courage.

Perseverance is a commitment to courage

Enough courage to stay the course and suspend beliefs about human frailty.

An unwavering commitment that allows one to be uninhibited by adversity.

So keep moving “Forward” whatever the odds.

Overcoming each and every obstacle with patience and steadfast persistence.

Knowing your effort inspires others, and in doing so, renews the power of the human spirit.

A spirit that is uniquely beautify – hidden within each of us.