Gems Among Us Winners Announced
December 02, 10(IDEX Online News) - The grand-prize winner of the Gems Among Us contest is Carlene Sperry of Maine, a seven-year breast cancer survivor and advocate. Nearly 10,000 votes were cast for the 10 finalists in the U.S. essay contest that recognizes individuals who make our world a better place.
“In the winning essay, Carlene Sperry was defined as ‘rare, precious and beautiful.’ She, along with all of the Gems Among Us nominees, exemplifies the shining qualities that make her a true ‘Gem Among Us,’” explained Amanda Gizzi, consumer communications director at Jewelers of America (JA). The contest was organized by Jewelry Information Center (JIC), the consumer education arm of JA.
Sperry was nominated in an essay written by her husband, Mitchell Sperry, referred to the contest by Republic Jewelry and Collectibles of Auburn, ME. The Sperrys and Dan Cunliffe II, owner of Republic Jewelry and Collectibles, have all won grand prizes.
Nearly 700 essays honoring loved ones that battled illness were submitted to the contest by people that were inspired by their selfless actions, and/or have given of themselves fully without restraint.
As the grand-prize “Gem Among Us,” Sperry won a trip for two to the Aventura Spa Palace Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, courtesy of Cosmopolitan magazine. As the grand-prize essay writer, Mitchell won a $5,000 jewelry shopping spree at a Contest Participating Retailer of his choice, courtesy of GE Money. He has elected to go to his referring jeweler, Republic Jewelry and Collectibles, for his $5,000 jewelry shopping spree.
As the retailer who referred the grand-prize winners to the Contest, Dan Cunliffe II has won a trip for two to Las Vegas during the 2011 jewelry trade shows, courtesy of GE Money.