Red Cross Fundraiser for Katrina
The Red Cross received $10,000 derived from a fundraising drive sponsored by Arthur Groom & Co. Although the fundraiser was planned before Katrina, it was decided to make the money available to local chapters affected by the storm. "These moneys are orientated toward the local chapters which are all drained because of Katrina," owner Arthur Groom confirmed.
Believed to be one of the world's largest non-enhanced emeralds, a fifty-carat emerald gemstone was on display at Arthur Groom & Co. as part of a nationwide naming contest. The fifty-carat emerald has been on tour in a dozen markets including California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and West Virginia. Mr. Groom said the estimated value of the stone is between $3 and $5 million dollars.
A delighted Nancy Baroni won the raffle for a $10 thousand dollar emerald and diamond ring as the prize. Raffle tickets sold for $20 each. The ticket proceeds as well as ten percent of all sales for that week went to the Red Cross.
Here is the "Name-the-Emerald"
contest winner, Judy Bonanno
wearing her prize
with her husband, Matthew
Bonanno.
The Arthur Groom & Co. staff along with the Bergen-Hudson Chapter of the Red Cross staff and volunteers together made the fundraiser a success.
The emerald is scheduled to go on display for one year in the Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Hall. The stone will be forever known by the name provided by the grand winner of the nationwide tour.
