Jacksonville’s Volunteers in Medicine has joined forces with Beard’s Jewelry to create an innovative way of honoring the nonprofit’s 2017 “Women with Heart” honorees.
Beard’s Jewelry has created a diamond heart necklace – dubbed “The Heart of Jacksonville” – that will be worn each month during the year by a different Women with Heart honoree as they serve as ambassadors for the organization that provides free medical services to Greater Jacksonville’s low-income working poor. The 2017 “Women with Heart” honorees include Lisa Weatherby, Reverend Kate Moorehead, Aimee Boggs, Paula Liang, Helen Morse, Susan Towler, Nicole Thomas, Tracy Williams, Representative Mia Jones, Dr. Annie Egan and Kathryn Pearson Peyton.
“We were thrilled when we learned of Beard’s Jewelry’s generous contribution and commitment to “Women with Heart” and our organization,” Volunteers in Medicine CEO Mary Pat Corrigan said. “This tremendous partnership allows us to honor our amazing honorees in style. The necklace is positively breathtaking and we are thrilled with the level of support for our organization from (Beard’s Jewelry owner) John Lupo and the family of Beard’s Jewelry.”
Made of 14 karat white gold, the Heart of Jacksonville necklace has a heart-shaped pendant that contains 20 brilliant-cut diamonds with a total weight of 2 carats. It is appraised at $7,000.
“Volunteers in Medicine’s downtown clinic and its impressive cadre of medical and non-clinical volunteers provide an invaluable service to our community,” Lupo said. “Our partnership with them reinforces our commitment to the community we serve.
“Women with Heart” support the mission of Volunteers in Medicine,” he continued, “so it was important to us to provide a piece that would be worthy of the women that are being honored.”