by Jessica Carerras
This Saturday, Dec. 1, Tapper's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry will celebrate both their 30th anniversary, and the world-wide fight against AIDS.
Coinciding with World AIDS Day, Tapper's will present their Precious Lives, Precious Metals Charity Gala at 8 p.m. on Saturday at their store in West Bloomfield. Here, guests will be able to partake in a live auction titled "Experience of a Lifetime," as well as enjoy a strolling dinner provided by the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group and dancing to the music of the Simone Vitale Band.
The Precious Lives, Precious Metals (PLPM) initiative was created by Howard Tapper, president and owner of the Michigan jewelry store, along with his family-based team consisting of his brother Steven, his wife Susan and their daughter, Marla. Working in conjunction with the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP) and YouthAIDS, PLPM was created with the goal of helping the fight against AIDS worldwide and working toward the prevention of it.
Currently, over 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, including around one million in the United States. Though almost three quarters of people who are infected live in sub-Saharan Africa, becoming infected also remains a threat to other groups, one of which is gay men. Seventy percent of new infections each year in the U.S. occur in men. Since the advent of AIDS in the 1980s, the virus has been a continual concern for not only gay youth, but the population worldwide. Groups like MAPP and YouthAIDS aim to educate youth about the dangers of contracting HIV/AIDS, and to combat it around the world.
The charity gala supports just that initiative. A portion of the proceeds from both the tickets and the items sold at the auction will be donated to help fight AIDS. Tickets are $130 and include a $30 gift certificate toward any item at Tapper's.
The largest part of the event will be the auction, which begins at 9 p.m. At that time, rare and exquisite items and vacation packages will be auctioned off. Each auction item is worth thousands of dollars, including a six day, five night trip to Italy valued at $15,000. That particular auction item includes both the vacation for two, a private tour of Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin's headquarters and a diamond circle pendant from Coin's collection.
Other items up for auction include attending a movie premier and party with actress Ashley Judd, a suite at the 2008 U.S. Open and numerous jewelry items, such as a stainless steel watch and a peal and diamond necklace and earrings set.
For those who are unable to attend the gala but still wish to contribute to PLPM and the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tapper's is opening up their doors to volunteers in their stores as well. Until March 31, 2008, all shoppers who donate $30 to PLPM will receive a $30 gift card to the store. In addition to this, $30 will be donated by Tapper's with the purchase of any platinum bridal jewelry.
This holiday season, jewelry shoppers can give more than just a bracelet or necklace – they can help support the fight against HIV/AIDS.
