What usually comes to mind when you think of a jewelry store? The sparkle, glamour, and romance? The jingle in the commercial?
I work at the corporate office of Ben Bridge Jeweler. You won’t find shiny display cases full of jewels here. There are 2 floors of cubicles, a few meeting rooms, and a low-key reception area. Phones buzz. Keyboards click. Daily business operations hum along. But if you look and listen closer, underneath it all, there’s a constant warm glow. Not from gold, but from a tender spot in the heart of this workplace: children.
Every October, Karen Donnelly, our inventory department manager, starts making room in her office for the all donations that will surely begin pouring in. Karen introduced The Forgotten Children’s Fund to Ben Bridge employees over 15 years ago. It’s a Seattle-based team of volunteers who make Christmas happen for needy children that may have thought they were forgotten. Through calls for donation items, silent auctions, cash collected on dress-down days, and participation in “wrap parties,” FCF has become a huge part of the holiday tradition at Ben Bridge.
If you see Dianne Smith rushing to set up the large training room after 5:00 p.m., she’s most likely helping Jon Bridge get ready for another meeting with the Evergreen Children’s Association, aka Kids Co, an organization that advocates high quality childcare with a policy of turning no child away. Jon, Co-CEO of Ben Bridge, has a very full calendar with various civic responsibilities and community activities, but his greatest passion is about education and justice for children. He and his wife, Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, worked to keep the drop-in childcare center open at the King County Superior Court for the safety and care of children who are called to testify as victims or witnesses. I had the opportunity to tour the center while serving jury duty once, and was impressed with all thought that went into the planning of the facility to keep children safe during such stressful times in their young lives.
Whenever I stop in to one of our stores to say hi, I like to show my shopping companion the Jessica Fong collection. Besides being beautiful and unique in her designs, Jessica has worked so well with Ben Bridge because she, too, has a soft spot for children. She dedicates much of her time and energy to building schools in rural villages in China. In 2008, our buyers had the privilege of traveling to China to celebrate the grand opening of a school with Jessica.
Jewelry designer Jessica Fong with the children at her school
Julie Nelson, the manager of the Ben Bridge store in Southcenter (Tukwila, WA), is a dear friend and a very active member of her local Rotary Club. Every spring/early summer, she calls me about the charity rose sale for her club, and that’s how I learned about one of its biggest project: to end polio among children in Ethiopia. Nearly every Ben Bridge store manager is involved in his or her local Rotary or other similar service clubs.
There are many more similar examples throughout the company. I wish I could name them all. Being a mother, I’m especially tuned into these activities at the workplace. The love for children and concern for their welfare are simply part of the culture at Ben Bridge. That’s why it makes perfect sense that Ed Bridge was recently elected as the new chairman of Jewelers for Children. It brings together many professionals in the industry to serve children who are faced with illness, abuse or other hardships. The partners include Make A Wish Foundation, Autism Speaks, Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and several more.
All jewelry stores may look the same from the outside when you’re strolling through a shopping center. Next time, visit a Ben Bridge store, and look for that warm glow behind all that glitter. Ask about the people in the company and their soft spot for children. You just might end up staying for a cup of coffee and a long chat. There’s candy for your kids, too. 
Photo taken in 2008 by Laurie Kirkman, Senior Buyer at Ben Bridge Jeweler.
2 Comments
It is great to see all of the companies that have pulled together for JFC. I love that we are trying to work as an industry to do good rather than just as individual companies.
Great to see what you guys are doing and I look forward to seeing what Ed brings to Jewelers for Children.
Michael — It is always wonderful to see industry professionals collaborate for common goals, whether it’s for social good or to share learning opportunities. The tagline of Social Media Club (International) says: “If you get it, share it.” It is definitely true for philanthropy as well. There’s simply nothing more rewarding.