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DEF names Zale's Goldberg as board co-president

March 25, 2009

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New York--The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) has announced the election of two new board co-presidents: Zale Corp. Chief Executive Officer Neal Goldberg and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network President and CEO Benjamin Chavis.

Sally Morrison, director of the Diamond Information Center, is exiting as board president.

"I am excited about taking on this new role as the Diamond Empowerment Fund co-president of the board and working with Dr. Ben Chavis," Goldberg said in a release. "These are challenging and exciting times, and I look forward to helping to create innovative ways for DEF to partner with others in the jewelry industry and to further DEF's fundraising capabilities so it can continue to do the good work it's doing to help Africans help Africa."

Added Chavis: "Together, Neal and I will help lead the Diamond Empowerment Fund forward to raise funding to help Africans empower themselves, in particular, in those nations on the African continent where diamonds are a natural resource. While we live in a global economy, it is important to contribute to the empowerment of Africa."

Headed by Russell Simmons, the DEF board also consists of Ellen Haddigan, DEF  executive director; Edward Hrabak, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of Sterling Jewelers; Phyllis Bergman, president of Mercury Ring Corp; Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana; Linah Mohoholo, governor of the Bank of Botswana; Scott Rauch, president of the Simmons Jewelry Co.; Jaci Wilson Reid, managing director of Westin Rinehart; and Varda Shine, managing director of the Diamond Trading Co.

DEF was founded in 2007 by Russell Simmons and members of the jewelry industry. The organization's mission is to help Africans help Africa by funding educational programs in nations where diamonds are a natural resource. The fund's first beneficiary is the Community and Individual Development Association (CIDA City Campus) in Johannesburg, the only free college in South Africa.
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