DeRobertis Jewelers Helps Raise Tidy Sum for St. Jude's

Rosie and Gene DeRobertis of in West Hartford Center recently attended the semi-annual conference of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) held at the extraordinary Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN.

While there, Rosie and Gene participated in a scrap gold donation fundraiser to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

St. Jude’s is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never have to pay for treatment that is not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay, and during the last five years, 81 cents of every dollar received has supported the treatment and research at this world-renowned medical facility.

"We like to 'give back' to the areas where we hold our conferences," says IJO President & CEO Jeff Roberts, "and St. Jude’s in nearby Memphis was a worthy choice. As a matter of fact, at our last conference in February we auctioned off three paintings by Erik Wahl and raised more than $20,000 which we donated to St. Jude’s, and in Nashville we raised a whopping $30,000! I’m so proud of the generosity of the IJO membership."

"IJO often refers to its 'strength in numbers' and this is a perfect example of the power of the IJO family," stated Gene DeRobertis.

"We learned that back in 1962 the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, was 4 percent. Today, the survival rate for this once deadly disease is 94 percent, thanks to research and treatment at St. Jude’s. We’re so happy to have had a part in helping St. Jude’s eventually eradicate this dreadful disease."

This information was provided in a press release written by Penny Palmer.