Thirteen industry leaders were inducted into the GIA League of Honor and received the Institute's prestigious League of Honor medallion Oct. 23 in New York.

Helene Fortunoff, president of Fortunoff and chair of GIA Fund Development, along with Sheldon Kwiat, copresident of Kwiat Incorporated and League of Honor Founders Dinner chair for 2000, congratulated 13 industry leaders for their vision and foresight in supporting GIA’s investment in the future of the industry as they were inducted into the prestigious League of Honor, Oct. 23 in New York during the annual GIA League of Honor Founders Dinner.

Donors who have committed $100,000 or more to GIA’s Vision 2000, New World Headquarters and Symposium campaigns received the coveted League of Honor medallions at the dinner. They were also  inducted into the League during a special ceremony in which 500 members of the industry came together to recognize the donors’ magnanimous gifts benefiting research, education, and the Institute’s campuses in Carlsbad, California, and New York.

The Sovereigns, Laureates and Symposium Honorees will have their names permanently inscribed on the GIA Wall of Honor at the Institute’s world headquarters in Carlsbad, visible to students, staff and guests who enter the Institute.

Fortunoff explained to the League of Honor Dinner attendees how the funds donated by the inductees have allowed GIA to make significant progress in areas critical to the success of members of the industry, including the areas of diamond and gemstone detection, identification of treatments, emerald fillers, and other important areas of advancing technology. The funds have also allowed GIA to expand its educational offerings and classrooms.

During the ceremony, Fortunoff also officially announced the opening of the GIA Endowment Campaign, "Investing in the Future." The campaign, as Fortunoff explained, creates a secure financial foundation for GIA to continue to pursue its core responsibilities of education, research, laboratory services and instrument development.

"We are all grateful that for over 70 years GIA has upheld standards and has met the challenges of technological threats and ethical dilemmas, while meeting the research and educational needs of the trade," Fortunoff said. "However, as the industry grows and consumer demand climbs, the need for improved research and expanded curricula and educational facilities rises steadily. With the unprecedented level of technological advances used in treatments, fillers and synthetics, there is a pressing need for the trade to come together and invest in its future. The way to do this is by perpetuating GIA through an endowment fund. All great educational and research institutions rely on outside income to support their missions. We in the industry must embrace this campaign to ensure our own future."

Kwiat announced that the Dinner raised $325,000 to benefit GIA's mission. He also thanked the League of Honor vice chairs and Miller Freeman for its sponsorship of the Dinner.

Ralph Destino, executive chairman of the GIA Board of Governors and William E. Boyajian, G.G., GIA president inducted this year's nominees:

Sovereigns

Gordon Gilchrist, Argyle Diamonds

Dr. Andrea Turcato, Vicenza Trade Fair Board

League of Honor Sovereigns include those individuals who have made a contribution of at least $100,000 to GIA’s Vision 2000 campaign in support of its mission to educate and serve the gem and jewelry industry.

Campus Laureates

Dilip Mehta, Rosy Blue Inc.

Shunsaku Tasaki, Tasaki Shinju

Georges Ruiz, P. Lancon, S.A.

Lorenzo Yih, Lorenzo Jewelry Manufacturers (H.K.) Ltd.

Louis Glick, Louis Glick Diamond Corporation

Glenn Rothman, Hearts on Fire

The GIA Carlsbad and New York Campus Laureates presentations are made during the annual League of Honor Dinner for donors who have pledged $100,000 or more to the campus as part of the New World Headquarters Campaign.

Symposium Honors

Dr. Giovanni Lasagna, Vicenza Trade Fair Board

William E. Zimmerman Jr., BHP Diamonds

Frank Dallahan, Jewelers’ Circular Keystone

Laurie Hudson, Platinum Guild International

Matthew Runci, Jewelers of America

Symposium Honors include those individuals who made a contribution of at least $100,000 to the 1999 International Gemological Symposium.

To discuss endowment opportunities contact Linda Ellis, GIA director of Development at (800)421-7250, ext. 4125 or (760)603-4125. All endowment naming opportunities are available through GIA’s Planned Giving Program. Contact Jane Lynch, GIA director of Planned Giving at (800)421-7250, ext. 4114 or (760)603-4114.

1995 League of Honor Inaugural Sovereigns 

1996 League of Honor Recipients

1997 League of Honor Recipients

1998 League of Honor Recipients

1999 League of Honor Campus Laureates