The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) announced that the recipients of its “Diamonds Do Good” awards would be honoured at a gala set for June 4 at the Four Seasons Ballroom in Las Vegas.

Honorees include retailer Helzberg Diamonds, which will receive the Corporate Legacy of Philanthropy Award, Graça Machel Mandela, former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa, who will receive the first-ever Global Humanitarian Award, and acclaimed actor and social justice advocate David Oyelowo, who starred in such films as Selma and A United Kingdom, who will receive the International Vanguard Award.

The Corporate Legacy of Philanthropy Award celebrates the actions a company’s takes to better the lives of the local community while making a difference on the global stage. The DEF said that for over 100 years, Helzberg Diamonds has epitomised this ideal.

Barnett Helzberg’s good business skills and sense of community responsibility helped grow his Kansas City-based jewellery stores even during the great depression, when his ‘Helzberg Sweetheart Hour’ sponsored radio program provided uplifting entertainment to listeners each week. He provided counselling for the girl scouts, support for the Kansas City Zoo, and established the Diamond Council of America.

When his son Barnett Jr. took over, this tradition continued. Barnett Jr. developed the ‘I am loved’ line and button promotion, which became a hallmark campaign of goodwill sent to celebrity ‘heroes’, military men serving in the Vietnam War, children in hospitals and was eventually translated into more than 11 languages.

Under the leadership of chief executive Beryl Raff in 2012, the company, now owned by Warren Buffet-led Berkshire Hathaway, established “Helzberg Helps,” made up of Helzberg Diamonds associates. It leads fundraising efforts and organises volunteer activities for charitable entities that support the benefit of children and families in need, such as Make-A-Wish, Salvation Army, Children’s Mercy Hospital, and more. Since 2009, Helzberg’s largest charitable efforts have been in support of Make-A-Wish America, helping to grant the wishes of children throughout the country.

Graça Machel has been a social and political activist for 40 years. She was First Lady of Mozambique when married to Samora Machel from 1975 until his death in 1986; and later became First Lady of South Africa from 1988 to 1999, when married to Nelson Mandela. Today, as the Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, her work focuses on women’s economic and financial empowerment, education, food security and nutrition, and promoting democracy and good governance.

Born in Mozambique, Graça was appointed Minister for Education and Culture when she was 29 years old. Upon her retirement from the ministry, she was appointed an expert of the UN Secretary General and was responsible for producing the groundbreaking report on the protection of children in armed conflict. A strong advocate for women’s and children’s rights, she was made a British dame for her humanitarian work. She has recently been appointed as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate.

The Graça Machel Trust works to amplify the voices of Africa’s women and children. It catalyses action, supports local initiatives, lends solidarity and offers support both publicly and behind the scenes with power brokers. The trust recently launched two pan-African Initiatives — the Women Advancing Africa Forum and the Women in Media Network.

The International Vanguard Award reflects David Oyelowo’s visionary work in the arts and in the education of vulnerable girls in Nigeria. Born in England to Nigerian parents of royal lineage, Oyelowo’s acting achievements celebrate leading historical personalities such as Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights activists in the film Selma and, most recently, Sir Seretse Khama in the film A United Kingdom, where Oyelowo’s performance highlights Botswana’s role as a leading diamond-producing nation and how diamonds are used to benefit the country and its people.

Oyelowo’s own passion for inspiring positive change and social justice is represented in his work with the GEANCO Foundation and the newly created David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls, which provides opportunity for young Nigerian girls to become the next leaders in their community and their country.

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