Last December Rachel Bilson traveled to Botswana and South Africa to see the work being done by Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund. Now the actress has created a new bracelet to benefit the cause. [caption id="attachment_1093" align="alignleft" width="305" caption="The Diamond Empowerment Fund"]<a href="http://blog.biggstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/diamond-empowerment-fund_biggstock.jpg"><img src="http://blog.biggstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/diamond-empowerment-fund_biggstock.jpg" alt="" title="diamond-empowerment-fund_biggstock" width="305" height="199" class="size-full wp-image-1093" /></a>[/caption]The leather bracelet features a 1/6 carat diamond in an Everlon Diamond Knot setting (the latest design from De Beers). The round-cut diamond is set in 14k gold over sterling silver. The bracelet sells for $100 at Macy's and $20 from each sale goes to the Diamond Empowerment Fund to support the education and empowerment of African people.


The Diamond Empowerment Fund was founded in 2007 and first raised money with the selling of a malachite bracelet crowned with a rough diamond. The non-profit international organization raises money to support education initiatives that include the fund's first project, the CIDA City Campus, located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The four-year school educates students and sends them back to the townships as teachers. It offers liberal arts education and business classes and the students do all the work at the school except teaching. Profits from Bilson's bracelet will help purchase additional student housing for the campus

REF: <a href="http://www.luxist.com/2010/01/22/rachel-bilson-designs-for-the-diamond-empowerment-fund/" target="_blank" >Rachel Bilson Designs For The Diamond Empowerment Fund</a>	