Briefly describe the mission and objectives of your organization.
Diamonds Direct's vertically integrated concept allows the retailer to cut out the middlemen and maintain involvement in the entire diamond process. Today, Diamonds Direct is one of America’s largest and most successful jewelry companies. Diamonds Direct backs their products with industry-leading guarantees and warranties, including their signature 110 percent lifetime upgrade. Diamonds Direct is a socially-responsible company that thinks globally and acts locally. The company ensures all diamonds are ethically sourced via the Kimberley Process and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for local philanthropies and cultural organizations that are critical to the communities Diamonds Direct calls home. Visit our New Orleans location at 3230 Severn Avenue today.
What motivated your organization to engage in a partnership with Son of a Saint?
It's not difficult to see why someone should support Son of a Saint. The mission of Son of a Saint is so clear, and so needed, it immediately speaks to anyone who learns about the organization. Also, we'd like to commend the team at Son of a Saint. Everyone involved with the organization is so hardworking and passionate, we know any and all support goes straight into the hands of people who will do everything in their power to make sure it benefits the mentees at Son of a Saint.
How does your partnership with Son of a Saint align with the core values and goals of your organization?
A core value of Diamonds Direct is to support and uplift the local community. Through philanthropy, volunteerism, and other partnerships, our team strives to support in every way we can. Our team was drawn to Son of a Saint because they perfectly embody what it means to be an agent of change and make a difference in New Orleans. Their actions make real differences, and like us, everyone involved in Son of a Saint live and work in the community we serve.
What has been the most unique or impactful component of your organization’s partnership with Son of a Saint?
The most impactful component of our organization's partnership is being able to directly contribute an educational activity to the programming at Son of a Saint. We have had the pleasure of hosting the mentors and mentees in the Diamonds Direct showroom for several lessons in gemology.
What does mentorship mean to your organization? How do you promote mentorship within your organization?
Because we know how dedicated the Son of a Saint team is, we try to include Son of a Saint whenever and wherever we can in our day-to-day operations. We circulate internal messaging about Son of a Saint to spread the mission and awareness of the organization regularly. We also have included Son of a Saint messaging in some of our radio advertising to highlight the incredible work they do throughout the community.
What does investing in the future of New Orleans look like for your organization?
As our business continues to grow, we hope that we are able to grow in our support of Son of a Saint. There will always be ways to continue to uplift and support the mentees enrolled in Son of a Saint and we hope to continue to help for years to come.
Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for Son of a Saint mentees?
One of our favorite sayings at Diamonds Direct New Orleans is, "slow down." So often we find ourselves in situations where we have to make an immediate decision or take immediate action. Slow down, count to five, take a breath, and then act. There's no reason to rush, and slowing down gives you the chance to prioritize what's right for YOU.
What do you envision for the future of your organization’s partnership with Son of a Saint?
We would love to continue to grow with Son of a Saint, both financially and to augment our educational program with them: field trips, bringing over experts, etc. We hope to be an asset to Son of a Saint if they need assistance, volunteers, etc. we hope they consider Diamonds Direct a resource.