PHOENIX (April 25, 2008) – The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and Jewelers for Children, the jewelry industry’s charity, are celebrating the granting of JFC’s 1,000th wish since its partnership with the Foundation began in 1999. Wish child Vava, 13, will visit Paris as recipient of the milestone wish.

Vava, who was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor last year, was welcomed earlier this month at the American Gem Society Conclave in Seattle. She is excited to visit the City of Lights and see some of the sights highlighted in the movie Ratatouille. Vava also dreams of being a photographer and hopes to take pictures of some famous Paris landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées.

Vava also has an extra reason to celebrate her wish: After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, doctors recently declared her cancer-free.

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation is honored to have such a generous, long-standing partner in Jewelers for Children,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “One-thousand wishes is a rare milestone, and thanks to JFC, there are one-thousand children and families in this country who have experienced the hope, strength and joy a wish granted brings.”

“It’s so gratifying to see our 1,000th wish granted and to know that the jewelry industry has made a difference in lives of so many children,” said JFC Chairman Howard Sherwood. “We also are looking forward to welcoming Vava to our annual Facets of Hope event (June 1), where we will celebrate 10 years of helping children in need.”

When JFC began its partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, it created the Wish A State program in conjunction with Jewelers of America as a method for granting wishes in all 50 states. To date, JFC, in conjunction with the American Gem Society, has donated more than $5.5 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

About Jewelers for Children

Jewelers for Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated nearly $28 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect through charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National CASA Association. This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals, and jewelry consumers. JFC also provides support to the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, the Jason Program, the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, Autism Speaks and the Santa-America Fund. For more information on Jewelers for Children and the Facets of Hope event, visit www.jewelersforchildren.org

About the American Gem Society

The American Gem Society was established in 1934 by a select group of independent jewelers and Robert M. Shipley, founder of the prestigious school of gemology, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It was their vision to create an association dedicated to setting and maintaining the highest possible standards of business ethics and professionalism in the jewelry industry. Today, American Gem Society members continue their dedication to ethics, knowledge and consumer protection. For more information on the American Gem Society, visit www.ags.org.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 164,000 wishes in the United States since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.